P38A what next?

kermit_rr said:

I think we've all just agreed the v8 is a good thing, just a few diesel nuts haven't seen the light yet

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Only those who feel it enhances their masculinity to have a throbbing V8 under the right foot.

Rover 3.5 was a good engine until they started playing with it. If you want to see a crap V8 look at a Triumph Stag unit.

wammers said:

Rover 3.5 was a good engine until they started playing with it. If you want to see a crap V8 look at a Triumph Stag unit.

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Oh yer

The stag unit is crap

Which is why stag are sometimes found with a Rover V8

Henry_b said:

Oh yer

The stag unit is crap

Which is why stag are sometimes found with a Rover V8

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Cannot for the life of me understand why Triumph use that engine and not the Rover 3.5, at that time they were all peeing in the same pot it was a no brainer.. Stag was a bloody class car with a crap engine. Dolomite another goodish car with half a Stag engine was also let down by it.

wammers said:

Cannot for the life of me understand why Triumph use that engine and not the Rover 3.5, at that time they were all peeing in the same pot it was a no brainer.. Stag was a bloody class car with a crap engine. Dolomite another goodish car with half a Stag engine was also let down by it.

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It was competition in the same company, wasn't it?

They wanted to be different IIRC

Back to my particular v8, the suggestion seems to be that i need to check the heads/gaskets again?
I don't notice any extra tapping when it's hot

kermit_rr said:

Back to my particular v8, the suggestion seems to be that i need to check the heads/gaskets again?
I don't notice any extra tapping when it's hot

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"EXTRA" tapping?

Yes check the headgaskets again.

It's been a bit tappy since i put a new camshaft and set of new hydraulic lifters in

kermit_rr said:

It's been a bit tappy since i put a new camshaft and set of new hydraulic lifters in

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Only when hot or from cold?

kermit_rr said:

It's been a bit tappy since i put a new camshaft and set of new hydraulic lifters in

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Was that before you joined, missed that thread

‘Victor Reinz’ seem to be the gasket to get for them. Guessing 3-dot is best for you, you’re supposed to measure & check tolerances but more is better I would bet

At all temps, it doesn't change.
It's not a violent tick like a cold engine that's not pumped oil to the lifters

RangeRoller dt said:

Was that before you joined, missed that thread

‘Victor Reinz’ seem to be the gasket to get for them. Guessing 3-dot is best for you, you’re supposed to measure & check tolerances but more is better I would bet

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No i changed the camshaft while a member here, i believe!
I'm lost now. 3 dot gasket? Supposed to measure which for tolerance? Have i done something bad?

kermit_rr said:

At all temps, it doesn't change.
It's not a violent tick like a cold engine that's not pumped oil to the lifters

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Victor reinz are the gasket of choice for me personally

composite of course.

I'd whip the heads off and have a look at the condition of the gaskets.

what done is done, nothing bad
I keep quiet is best.

Just saying don’t cheap out on gasket

Ok. If I'm taking the heads off yet again, is there anything i can do to quieten the tappets other than replacement?

Worth a mention.
When you had the vehicle cyl 4/6 were poorly. The post says overpressuring started when you changed the two leads on those cylinders?

Tappets on the V8's usually either tap when the cam lobe is worn down and the tappet can't take up the clearance. Also it happens when crud gets on NRV in the tappet and when the engine stops with valve spring pressure on the affected tappet, oil is forced past the NRV depressing the tappet it ideally should go away soon after the engine is run, if not maybe the outer sleeve to inner sleeve fitment is tight due to crap buildup that or oil pressure is lower than it should be

RangeRoller dt said:

Worth a mention.
When you had the vehicle cyl 4/6 were poorly. The post says overpressuring started when you changed the two leads on those cylinders?

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The issue with 4 and 6 was finally traced to worn cams. When i took the camshaft out, they were more or less round. Still got the camshaft
I think changing the leads was unrelated, the head came off again since then and that had gasket was ok. Left the other side on

Old lifters didn't seem horrendous, new ones went in easy enough
I've not the tech to measure oil pressure, but never had the light come on. Appreciate that doesn't mean much

kermit_rr said:

Old lifters didn't seem horrendous, new ones went in easy enough
I've not the tech to measure oil pressure, but never had the light come on. Appreciate that doesn't mean much

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The 2 failed lifters must have been dished atleast!

Oil pressure would be a good check regardless.

remember the pressure light only comes on when it's too late..


But RV8 worn cams are rather common regardless of oil pressure, usual culprit is the lack of ZDDP in the oil causing the cam lobe face and tappet face to destroy each other.

20w50 VR1 is ideal for the V8..

I'd pull the tappets and check condition.

If you have a defective tappet, I:E collapsed, when you pull the valley gasket out, give the pushrod's a wiggle, you'll find the loose one quite quickly if that is the case.

However..

Back to headgasket..

Use a good quality Composite gasket and new headbolts.