Disco 1 V8 ES project

Thought I'd better start a project thread seeing as I have found some enthusiasm for this again

Here's my Disco 1 ES Premium project which started off as only needing a little welding on the battery tray and a set of front calipers.
IMG_20180403_193018 by Steve, on Flickr
IMG_20180403_193045 by Steve, on Flickr
IMG_20180403_193130 by Steve, on Flickr
IMG_20180403_193111 by Steve, on Flickr

I will be removing the LPG as I'd like the space back in the back...also it doesn't work haha

So far it started off with me doing the spot of welding and fitting new calipers for the MOT, mot sadly found it was running rather rich and soon after developed a misfire under load. Traced the misfire and tappety sound to a worn cam which i'm fairly sure is standard on a RV8.

Also At this point I decided to investigate the non working fuel gauge and found this in the tank
IMG_20180426_193104 by Steve, on Flickr

Part number shows it to be for a nissan primera haha

So new pump fitted and on with getting the camshaft done.

When I was loading it onto a trailer to take it to my workshop it decided to cut out and not start again...great. So over to workshop and changed cam and still no start

Since then I've parked it up in disgust and not looked at it since haha.

Holiday time this week so I have vowed to win the fight with it and drag the V8 kicking and screaming back from the dead. So far have checked ignition system and I'm getting a nice fat spark and fuel pressure up to the rail. Next on the list is check the injectors and FPR are working as I've found there is very little fuel going back to the tank from the return.

Eventual plan is to fit Megasquirt and a light breathing mods (heads/intake/exhaust manifolds)

For the actual Disco it'll be a general tidy up (find working electric seat switches etc) underseal and then some off road goodies once I have a good base.

Didn't get time to work on it during holiday so made up for it this weekend

Mucked about with ignition system and new earths for a while before getting the dreaded compression tester out. This confirmed the worst with readings between 100-110 psi on all cylinders...coupled with the oil smelling incredibly strongly of petrol confirms to me the rings are shot with it running rich for so long, or at the very least the bores are glazed.

I've used this as an excuse to repair the crusty battery tray and inner arches while the engine is stripped and I have the room

So gloomily I set about the strip down
IMG-20180819-WA0001 by Steve, on Flickr
IMG-20180819-WA0003 by Steve, on Flickr
IMG-20180820-WA0006 by Steve, on Flickr

Head bolts were tightened by the hulk I'm fairly sure and I destroyed 2 16mm sockets trying to remove them...I came back prepared with an impact 16mm the next day (oddly the only impact socket I don't own)

Under head number one I found the remains of a spark plug electrode that had broken off in number 4 cyl and was quite happily chilling out in the cylinder, not too much damage as the bore is untouched and just a few marks on the piston and head (I'm never usually that lucky)

Spent the rest of today stripping the front end off before heading home to order rings and gaskets
IMG_20180820_140739 by Steve, on Flickr
IMG-20180820-WA0009 by Steve, on Flickr

I'll hopefully get the pistons out and the bores cleaned up this weekend and make a start on the inner arch welding...also replace the questionable front brake pipes someone has lazily made in the past

Good work so far! 110psi doesn't sound too bad?

Love you work space - seriously envious!

rob_bell said:

Good work so far! 110psi doesn't sound too bad?

Love you work space - seriously envious!

Click to expand...

Thanks, it needs cleared out haha, I have a rotten Saab 900 turbo festering away at the other side which is destined for the crusher so that will give me more space

Spent a bit of time on it last night and popped a piston out...found one of the shells to be down to the bronze, great!

So engine will be coming out and full rebuild will and conversion to megasquirt fuel and ignition will commence