My First V8!

Evening All,

After finishing my series 3 project I have some free time so I purchased another project but ended up selling it to various mates for bits so I am left with this 3.9 V8 of unknown condition so I have decided to get it running and tart it up a lot ready for another project in the future.



So this is what I have started with a very oily 3.9 V8 with an lpg kit.

This evening i pulled off the Lpg kit as i plan to run it on petrol.



Couldn't see anything majorly wrong or out of place apart from a few frayed pipes that clearly haven't worked for a while.

The engine block itself is very oily, not too sure on where the majority of it is coming from.



I am not sure on the age of the engine, the mileage was supposedly around 70,000 how true that is who knows the vehicle hadn't moved in its unfinished project form for 3 years since the engine was fitted and it was never started in the vehicle. If anyone has an idea of age the engine number is 35D11930B.

One thing i did notice is that the filler cap smells of petrol as does the oil to a degree, im not sure if the oil just hasnt been changed for a few years or if this is pointing to something more serious. Not too sure on what could cause this as i have only really worked on diesel engines before.

So my new project is off to a start and having looked at prices of parts just to try and start it i can safely say this may well be a long project, but i will keep posting on here.

You can't sell ya tat until you have at least 50 useful posts so delete the fooker and start been helpful....

I don't think he's selling it is he ? Looks like he's saying its the dregs of his last project and he wants to make it run for his next one…….




Cue Dr_evil V8 jokes………..

Its not for sale, I have only just started stripping it down.

y0 jack, welcome to the homeland

good news that youre ditching the lpg.

oil comes out everywhere on the v8s so without regular cleaning they can get rather messy. particularly oil spills from where people have been topping it up.

it needs a jolly good steam clean for starters, pop the plenum back on and get it washed, then start taking it apart and wash everything else.

youre going to want to strip the whole top end off (not the heads initially) and remove the sump to have a look about and clean everything, unless your piece parting it anyway?

the petrol smell in the oil is standard, these puppies run ever so rich, especially when out of tune, thats why oil changes every 6 months are ideal. nobody does that anymore though apart from enthusiasts so thats another reason why these motors usually end up so rank inside. and the petrol leads to increased engine wear so before long she needs a full overhaul.

this motor unless seized/knackered will run rather nicely if you strip the top end, clean all her airways out and attempt to get some fresh oil through the tappets etc.

the chances are it is buggered though and will need a full rebuild but id be getting it running first and warm and then do a compression test

Ah thanks! Just stripped the loom off so I can get it washed hopefully the jet wash will get some off with some gunk degreaser.

When it's cleaned down I am going to knock a frame up so I can push it about in the garage it's currently outside and don't want to strip too much off until its inside. I can borrow a compression tester so ill check that. Just got to invest in some parts.. Fuel pump, HT leads, mass airflow, lambda sensors etc might pop down to the local scrappy as they have just had a 3.9 disco in. Should be slightly cheaper than buying new just to try and start it.

its a nice late hotwire motor with the serp front end, good choice bar the 94mm bores but lets not go there on a nice friday eve

Yeah what he said, I was chuffed to see it was a serp 3.9 tbh, overalls they're a decent motor and just hope for the best

Ordered a steam cleaner so that should be here Monday to clean the engine. One thing I have been reading is that late engines had an immobiliser ? Will this be a possibility or will it be a problem if it is there. And any info on potential places to look out for damage areas would be appreciated.

Mr Noisy said:

Yeah what he said, I was chuffed to see it was a serp 3.9 tbh, overalls they're a decent motor and just hope for the best

Click to expand...

serp type water pump does improve cooling to lh bank but they are still as prone as earlier type

Not a lot happened since my last update, I have taken the wiring loom off ready to clean the engine. Does anyone know of a cheap engine stand? I have looked at one in machine mart, seems to be ok.

If you search flea bay, you can get one for about £40

I would have put the link on, but the one I got recently have all sold out.

I have been doing the same process. After you have steam cleaned. You can get the stubborn bits off with some jizer

Chris Bury Sales is the cheapest on ebay iirc

Bloody dirty bugger that thing though!!!

http://bit.ly/12VRWhw

Ordered this one. Yer going to be a bit of work to clean it up, not ideal in this heat but I shouldn't complain about it

a bench is better IMO

That'll make life easier. Have fun cleaning it up in this weather

Ok so my steam cleaner arrived and I guess I somewhat over estimated its power..

So that can be washed and used as someone's Christmas present!

I got the gunk out on a paint brush and cleaned some of the dirt off it isn't spotless however so ill have another go at some point. I did have a minor heart attack when I was washing the gunk off with the hose I was flushing the coolant holes out and nothing was coming out any of the other outlets so I thought I was filling the intake up but luckily it wasn't!

Yeah as far as steam cleaners go you need a diesel heated one, they're megabucks but can be rented from HSS etc for reasonable moneys, and they do make life a LOT easier.

The job cannot be done cold effectively, but at least you will get clean enough to strip and then solvent wash.

Best o' luck

Shame you were selling it when u were last up here otherwise you could have borrowed our steam cleaner.