New engine or new headgaskets?

My P38 My 2000 - 183.000 km

Has blown the top coolant hose - I'm wondering about changing headgaskets.

I've just spoken to Chris from RPI-Engineering - he tells me that trying to revive my car with new gaskets will only be a waste of money - instead I should buy a new COSCAST V8 short or long engine and scrap the old one..... I'm really confused now...

FACT: The car is a keeper!

Also need some attention concerning torque converter - new Throttle body and a few other bits....


What are your comments on this....

Google ACR V8. I used them for my rebuild. Great service and lots of advice. Steve

never hardly headgaskets usually cracked block/liner trouble go with the new engine

talk to Stuart

Home - Armson Automotive Engineers

he really knows his stuff..

So you suggest that I scrap the old engine and get a new long engine - if I have to get a new one I suppose that this is the way to go....

When I google "coscast" - some say: "yes the only true way to go" and others say top hat liners - I'm truely confused - need to get the car running soon, but I had hoped I could get it running for 1.000 - 1.500 pounds.

I'm asking a lot of questions - I know, but with all repairs, necessary maintenance for another 98-10 years the car needs attention consisting of: Engine, Torque Converter, Throttle Body unit, blend motors, New windscreen, 1 set of tyres this summer, new chain in transfer case + other various parts I'm lookning at 6 - 7.000 pounds in repairs! (here in Denmark cars are very expensive - A lemon P38 costs around 9.000 pounds - a good one 15-20.000. Everywhere else P38's are dirt cheap compared to DK - So that's why I'm considering spending 3-4.000 pounds on a new long engine....

Comments / advice is more than welcome!!!

do you get stung if you inport one from UK etc?

RH95754 said:

So you suggest that I scrap the old engine and get a new long engine - if I have to get a new one I suppose that this is the way to go....

When I google "coscast" - some say: "yes the only true way to go" and others say top hat liners - I'm truely confused - need to get the car running soon, but I had hoped I could get it running for 1.000 - 1.500 pounds.

I'm asking a lot of questions - I know, but with all repairs, necessary maintenance for another 98-10 years the car needs attention consisting of: Engine, Torque Converter, Throttle Body unit, blend motors, New windscreen, 1 set of tyres this summer, new chain in transfer case + other various parts I'm lookning at 6 - 7.000 pounds in repairs! (here in Denmark cars are very expensive - A lemon P38 costs around 9.000 pounds - a good one 15-20.000. Everywhere else P38's are dirt cheap compared to DK - So that's why I'm considering spending 3-4.000 pounds on a new long engine....

Comments / advice is more than welcome!!!

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hi,if it is as you say a keeper,then get either a short engine and use your heads etc.or for my money i would go the whole way and buy a complete long engine.

Put something decent in it like an ls1

fanatic said:

Pus something decent in it like an ls1

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oh deary me.what would jiggysaw say about this hey.

Quad cam v8 power

jigsaw said:

Quad cam v8 power

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not a bloody lexus engine.:doh::doh::doh:

I'm only interested in getting the engine in situ fixed - or getting another 4.6 V8 long engine - the important thing is that it is legal and fits my car without any modifications - I'm simply looking for the best cost/benefit solution.

getting top hat liners in the current engine is not interesting...

RH95754 said:

I'm only interested in getting the engine in situ fixed - or getting another 4.6 V8 long engine - the important thing is that it is legal and fits my car without any modifications - I'm simply looking for the best cost/benefit solution.

getting top hat liners in the current engine is not interesting...

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well get a long engine then,problem sorted.

and where would you buy it then?

RH95754 said:

and where would you buy it then?

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do a google search for it.

Rimmer Bros have OEM V8 engines for sale, not sure which versions though.

the way forward here is to strip the engine out and asses the situation,
is it beyond repair? if so get a new engine.
have liners slipped? new engine/top hat liners
is it the gaskets? try new gaskets
(they aint expensive but its hassle if it doesnt work, assuming your doing the work)

the torque converter needs looking at so the engine will most likely have to come out so its not like your gonna be able to excape taking the engine out!!!

top hat liners are the way forward if you intend repairing the current one.

post pictures of the heads/gaskets/block etc, i'll even discuss the matter on skype providing your english is up to scratch, my denmarkeese isnt really anygood!!! lol!!!

LOL!!!

"i'll even discuss the matter on skype providing your english is up to scratch, my denmarkeese isnt really anygood!!! lol!!!"

You know gav' Danish isn't so hard - even kid speak it.....


..... enjoying an episode of Top Gear LOL

Although RPI are supposed to be good they are also more known for being expensive and like to paint a bad picture of what you have and what others are selling, in there eyes they are the only rover v8 specialists and coscast are the only way to go.

There are plenty of bad stories about the coscast blocks as well, there are also stories about the top hat liners, personally I believe the top hat liner way is THE way to go and I bet if you were to set up a poll on any Land Rover forum you would see top hat liners win every time over the coscast.

Talk to these people V8Developments Ltd. they are VERY knowledgeable, they used to supply RPI part and fully built engines, apparently a lot of a RPI stuff is only bought in and sold as there own.......

Turner engineering is another one to google, as has been said here before ACR they all have good reputations and are worth speaking to for second or more good opinions, I've had the RPI sales pitch too many times now to even bother dealing with them, every time I have spoke to them they have told me " cut you loses, sell what you have and spend your money buying our stuff " I have then ignored what they have said, got second opinions from others that have always worked and at far less cost

Just my opinion of course but if you look around enough other threads and forums you will see the same pattern.........

V8 Developments do a top hat liner-ed block with I think 24 month warranty that you can then build up with your heads, crank and pistons etc you can do it this way for £1500 I'm pretty sure it was Javars that did his just a couple of months ago

I think RPI only offer 12 months warranty with the coscast, why?????

Steve

Hi everyone,

Got the following offer from Turner Engineering yesterday

To Supply:
1 x 4.6l. V8 Petrol Engine – Exchange, Stripped engine, no external parts, Remanufactured with block casting fitted with ductile iron flanged liners
£ 2700.00

1 x New front cover inc. oil pump £ 205.00
1 x STC 4378 water pump £ 65.00

1 x delivery £ 80.00
1 x collection old unit later £ 95.00
1 x surcharge old unit/engine base £ 500.00

The above prices are ex vat (20%). All items available from stock .

Engine manufactured in accordance with BS AU 257 2002 – all export sales subject to English law.

Surcharge/deposit on old unit £ 500 + vat - Deposit usually secured by credit card number. Ie not charged provided old unit is returned in due course.

The above quote is valid for a period of 30 days. When ordering please quote current engine number for identification.

Our engines carry a 12 months unlimited mileage warranty. Ductile iron flanged linered block casting guaranteed for a further two years. External fitting gaskets/running in oil supplied with the engine.


Seems ok to me - anything I should be aware of??