P38 4.6 Overheating AGAIN

I've had a P38 a little while.

Earlier this year on a trip to London it would overheat after pulling away from Lights in traffic. On the way back to Wales it stayed steady in the middle position. A couple of days later it over heated and I thought I'd try the Thermostat. Replaced it and everything was fine for a couple of months.

On another trip up the motorway I was heading to Wiltshire. Through the country lanes the other end, stopping starting etc it over heated yet again. At this point it was red hot before I noticed it, etc etc.

Next day drove it half a mile and it went red hot yet again, so I went to bearmach in another car and got a new water pump. Changed it and after that looked in the oil saw all the white gunk so I thought I best get it rebuilt. In other words I said F**k it

Took it to a chap I know that does Rover V8's for him to do it.
I got a set of rebuilt heads for good measure. Turned out the Head gasket was gone, but the old heads wernt too bad. The head gasket also explained the white gunk as it was blowing water in.

On the day of fitting, I went to his garage, he started it up and it turned out the new radiator I bought had a crack, so he had to get another one. What was concerning was the water coming out of the radiator was steam.

Next day he stuck a new radiator on it and another new thermostat and its been working fine every day for the last two months.


Today I've been using it most of the day, this evening I drove half a mile, went for a walk got back in it some time later and from semi cold it decided to go straight to red hot without a minute or so.

Heaters are blowing hot, as they have done every time its over heated.
Earlier today I checked the water level and it was at the same level its been since I had it back.

Now checking it just 30 minutes ago after it over heated, the water tank appears to be empty and from the top of the radiator it made several gulp noises, top of the radiator is very hot.



Any suggestions as to where the issue might be?

I am considering fitting a spare thermostat I have and drilling a small home in metal cap

(how I will reach inside I dunno lol)

And one other thing that I did noticed was a drip in the passengers footwell.

On getting the vehicle back after the rebuild, a passenger said to me water was dripping on her foot. I assumed that it was a blocked A/C drain as when the A/C was off it "appeared" to stop not long after, the water didnt appear to have any anti freeze kind of smell to it either.
That said it did appear to have a wet carpet too.

I'm not sure if that means the heater matrix O rings.
Is it worth having them changed?


Just checked oil, doesnt appear to be gunk in it, will do a sniff test on it tomorrow.

It would appear that there is coolant in the oil again. No doubt there is some sort of crack or slipped liner which wasnt detected.


I've sourced a brand new block with new pistons and crank for good measure.

its strange the v8 fella didnt notice the liners slipped if they have, i would certainly rebuild with the new stuff, a quick test for the o rings would be to join the two pipes at the bulkhead to eliminate the heater matrix. if problem persists its something else although water will still seep from the matrix but prolly not as much as theres no pressure!