P38 EFI rocker cover gasket replacement

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G

Gazza

Guest
Hi group,

This weekend I am, amongst lots of other jobs, going to replace my
rocker cover gaskets on my 1998 V8 P38. I thought my (most major) oil
leak was the valley gasket but it now looks more like the rocker cover
gaskets. This is unexplored territory for me, I mostly tackle the
electric faults. According to RAVE I have to remove the plenum chamber
to get the left cover off but this looks a bit OTT. Is this necessary or
can it be done some other way? What can I get away with? Thanks guys and
gals for any advice.

Gazza


1998 V8 P38
1989 RR Classic
 
Yes it's a PITA!. Remove your air flow meter, Undo the six cap head bolts
that hold the plenum on and the breather hoses from your plenum then you
should be able to lift the complete assembly over on to the passenger side.
this then gives you enough room for you to remove the rocker.

Make sure you clean the plenum base and use silicone to seal it back on to
your trumpets. to avoid any air leaks.

You will need a 12 point 8mm socket and small extension to make life easy
removing the rocker bolts.

Be carful when removing the old rubber gaskets as they have 4 small brass
crush washers around the edge where your rocker cover screws go through.
They have a habbit of dropping out of old gaskets inside the head.

Hope this helps

Brian Tonks
Tonks4x4
27-29 Main Street
Huthwaite
Sutton-In-Ashfield
Nottinghamshire
NG17 2LD
01623 452885

http://www.tonks4x4.com



"Gazza" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hi group,
>
> This weekend I am, amongst lots of other jobs, going to replace my
> rocker cover gaskets on my 1998 V8 P38. I thought my (most major) oil
> leak was the valley gasket but it now looks more like the rocker cover
> gaskets. This is unexplored territory for me, I mostly tackle the
> electric faults. According to RAVE I have to remove the plenum chamber
> to get the left cover off but this looks a bit OTT. Is this necessary or
> can it be done some other way? What can I get away with? Thanks guys and
> gals for any advice.
>
> Gazza
>
>
> 1998 V8 P38
> 1989 RR Classic


 

"Brian Tonks" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Yes it's a PITA!. Remove your air flow meter, Undo the six cap head bolts
> that hold the plenum on and the breather hoses from your plenum then you
> should be able to lift the complete assembly over on to the passenger
> side.
> this then gives you enough room for you to remove the rocker.
>
> Make sure you clean the plenum base and use silicone to seal it back on to
> your trumpets. to avoid any air leaks.

DO NOT USE SILICON!!!!! Silicon sealant is NOT a permanent seal against any
petrol vapours present, they will slowly but surely break down the sealant
causing induction air leaks at the plenum. Correct sealant is Blue Hylomar,
aplied sparingly. If I had a fiver for every leaking plenum I've removed and
found silicon in there over the years, I'd be a very rich man!

> You will need a 12 point 8mm socket and small extension to make life easy
> removing the rocker bolts.
>
> Be carful when removing the old rubber gaskets as they have 4 small brass
> crush washers around the edge where your rocker cover screws go through.
> They have a habbit of dropping out of old gaskets inside the head.

Indeed, one of the reasons why I no longer fit the genuine rubber gaskets,
opting instead for the rubber copies of the original cork type, supplied by
Real Steel.

Badger.
B.H.Engineering,
Rover V8 engine specialists
www.bhengineering.co.uk
www.roverv8engines.com


 
Badger wrote:
> "Brian Tonks" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>Yes it's a PITA!. Remove your air flow meter, Undo the six cap head bolts
>>that hold the plenum on and the breather hoses from your plenum then you
>>should be able to lift the complete assembly over on to the passenger
>>side.
>>this then gives you enough room for you to remove the rocker.
>>
>>Make sure you clean the plenum base and use silicone to seal it back on to
>>your trumpets. to avoid any air leaks.
>
>
> DO NOT USE SILICON!!!!! Silicon sealant is NOT a permanent seal against any
> petrol vapours present, they will slowly but surely break down the sealant
> causing induction air leaks at the plenum. Correct sealant is Blue Hylomar,
> aplied sparingly. If I had a fiver for every leaking plenum I've removed and
> found silicon in there over the years, I'd be a very rich man!
>
>
>>You will need a 12 point 8mm socket and small extension to make life easy
>>removing the rocker bolts.
>>
>>Be carful when removing the old rubber gaskets as they have 4 small brass
>>crush washers around the edge where your rocker cover screws go through.
>>They have a habbit of dropping out of old gaskets inside the head.
>
>
> Indeed, one of the reasons why I no longer fit the genuine rubber gaskets,
> opting instead for the rubber copies of the original cork type, supplied by
> Real Steel.
>
> Badger.
> B.H.Engineering,
> Rover V8 engine specialists
> www.bhengineering.co.uk
> www.roverv8engines.com
>
>
Thanks for the replies guys, very valuable and much appreciated advice.
I collected the gaskets and some other expensive bits this morning,
SWMBO is doing a boot sale tomorrow so good opportunity for me to get
oiled-up in peace!!

Gazza
 
Gazza wrote:
> Hi group,
>
> This weekend I am, amongst lots of other jobs, going to replace my
> rocker cover gaskets on my 1998 V8 P38. I thought my (most major) oil
> leak was the valley gasket but it now looks more like the rocker cover
> gaskets. This is unexplored territory for me, I mostly tackle the
> electric faults. According to RAVE I have to remove the plenum chamber
> to get the left cover off but this looks a bit OTT. Is this necessary or
> can it be done some other way? What can I get away with? Thanks guys and
> gals for any advice.
>
> Gazza
>
>
> 1998 V8 P38
> 1989 RR Classic

I was ready to start the job this morning but noticed a worst oil leak
lower down around the valley gasket buggrit. This is a job I don't feel
confident to tackle so it will be open wallet surgery and I'll let my
local independent boys have the pleasure, they estimate four hours. Do
you reckon it's worth selling the family silver and getting the cam etc
done at the same time (I can't really afford it), it's done 99k?

Gazza

--

1998 V8 HSE P38
1989 V8 RR Classic

If It Ain’t Broken... Fix It ‘Til It Is

 
Gazza wrote:

|| Do you reckon it's worth selling the family
|| silver and getting the cam etc done at the same time (I can't really
|| afford it), it's done 99k?

All other things being equal, yes - ~80K is the mileage that most cams start
to wear through the tuftriding and start to wear big time, or so I've heard.
If you're having the heads off, you might as well - it's not much extra
work. Well, some...

--
Rich
==============================

I don't approve of signatures, so I don't have one.


 
On Mon, 1 May 2006 10:49:26 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
<[email protected]> wrote:

>Gazza wrote:
>
>|| Do you reckon it's worth selling the family
>|| silver and getting the cam etc done at the same time (I can't really
>|| afford it), it's done 99k?
>
>All other things being equal, yes - ~80K is the mileage that most cams start
>to wear through the tuftriding and start to wear big time, or so I've heard.
>If you're having the heads off, you might as well - it's not much extra
>work. Well, some...

I wouldn't have thought there was much overlap in the jobs TBH. On
the Disco the cam was done with the heads untouched, but both
radiators had to come out. I don't suppose either would need to be
disturbed to do the heads, although I suppose the coolant will have to
be drained.

On the P38 it will probably be different, but I'd guess more work not
less than the Discovery.

The later cams are supposedly better than the 3.5 ones, but my 3.9 one
was showing significant wear at 120,000. It was definitely better
with a new one in - revved more freely and ran smoother. But I don't
know that you'll save much money by combining the two jobs - the
garage will be able to tell you I suppose.

--

Tim Hobbs

'58 Series 2 88" aka "Stig"
'03 Volvo V70
'06 Nissan Navara aka "The Truck"
 
Gazza wrote:
> Hi group,
>
> This weekend I am, amongst lots of other jobs, going to replace my
> rocker cover gaskets on my 1998 V8 P38. I thought my (most major) oil
> leak was the valley gasket but it now looks more like the rocker cover
> gaskets. This is unexplored territory for me, I mostly tackle the
> electric faults. According to RAVE I have to remove the plenum chamber
> to get the left cover off but this looks a bit OTT. Is this necessary or
> can it be done some other way? What can I get away with? Thanks guys and
> gals for any advice.
>
> Gazza
>
>
> 1998 V8 P38
> 1989 RR Classic
In to get oil leak sorted today and the cam is knackered, wallet is in
terminal shock ffs!

--

1998 V8 HSE P38
1989 V8 RR Classic

If It Ain’t Broken... Fix It ‘Til It Is
 
Tim Hobbs wrote:
> On Mon, 1 May 2006 10:49:26 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
>
>>Gazza wrote:
>>
>>|| Do you reckon it's worth selling the family
>>|| silver and getting the cam etc done at the same time (I can't really
>>|| afford it), it's done 99k?
>>
>>All other things being equal, yes - ~80K is the mileage that most cams start
>>to wear through the tuftriding and start to wear big time, or so I've heard.
>>If you're having the heads off, you might as well - it's not much extra
>>work. Well, some...
>
>
> I wouldn't have thought there was much overlap in the jobs TBH. On
> the Disco the cam was done with the heads untouched, but both
> radiators had to come out. I don't suppose either would need to be
> disturbed to do the heads, although I suppose the coolant will have to
> be drained.
>
> On the P38 it will probably be different, but I'd guess more work not
> less than the Discovery.
>
> The later cams are supposedly better than the 3.5 ones, but my 3.9 one
> was showing significant wear at 120,000. It was definitely better
> with a new one in - revved more freely and ran smoother. But I don't
> know that you'll save much money by combining the two jobs - the
> garage will be able to tell you I suppose.
>

They have found the bottom skirt of a piston in the sump!!!!
New engine FFS. A new lump is about £500 more than a recon.
The cost of rebuilding won't be much less than a new unit, is it worth
it? The car is worth jack as it is and I wasn't planning to change it
just yet. What would you do?


--

1998 V8 HSE P38
1989 V8 RR Classic

If It Ain’t Broken... Fix It ‘Til It Is
 

"Gazza" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> They have found the bottom skirt of a piston in the sump!!!!
> New engine FFS. A new lump is about £500 more than a recon.
> The cost of rebuilding won't be much less than a new unit, is it worth it?
> The car is worth jack as it is and I wasn't planning to change it just
> yet. What would you do?

Personally, I'd rebuild the engine myself - to a better standard than the
factory ever managed! Doing a top-hat linered 4.0 for someone local at the
moment for considerably less than landrover are asking for a replacement std
lump. Where are you based, I may be able to point you in the direction of
someone that can help you....?
Badger.


 
Badger wrote:
> "Gazza" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>
>>They have found the bottom skirt of a piston in the sump!!!!
>>New engine FFS. A new lump is about £500 more than a recon.
>>The cost of rebuilding won't be much less than a new unit, is it worth it?
>>The car is worth jack as it is and I wasn't planning to change it just
>>yet. What would you do?
>
>
> Personally, I'd rebuild the engine myself - to a better standard than the
> factory ever managed! Doing a top-hat linered 4.0 for someone local at the
> moment for considerably less than landrover are asking for a replacement std
> lump. Where are you based, I may be able to point you in the direction of
> someone that can help you....?
> Badger.
>
>
Hi Badger,

I'm in west London.

G

--

1998 V8 HSE P38
1989 V8 RR Classic

If It Ain’t Broken... Fix It ‘Til It Is
 
Gazza wrote:
> Tim Hobbs wrote:
>> On Mon, 1 May 2006 10:49:26 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
>> <[email protected]> wrote:
>>
>>
>>> Gazza wrote:
>>>
>>>>> Do you reckon it's worth selling the family
>>>>> silver and getting the cam etc done at the same time (I can't
>>>>> really afford it), it's done 99k?
>>>
>>> All other things being equal, yes - ~80K is the mileage that most
>>> cams start to wear through the tuftriding and start to wear big
>>> time, or so I've heard. If you're having the heads off, you might
>>> as well - it's not much extra work. Well, some...
>>
>>
>> I wouldn't have thought there was much overlap in the jobs TBH. On
>> the Disco the cam was done with the heads untouched, but both
>> radiators had to come out. I don't suppose either would need to be
>> disturbed to do the heads, although I suppose the coolant will have
>> to be drained.
>>
>> On the P38 it will probably be different, but I'd guess more work not
>> less than the Discovery.
>>
>> The later cams are supposedly better than the 3.5 ones, but my 3.9
>> one was showing significant wear at 120,000. It was definitely
>> better with a new one in - revved more freely and ran smoother. But
>> I don't know that you'll save much money by combining the two jobs -
>> the garage will be able to tell you I suppose.
>>
>
> They have found the bottom skirt of a piston in the sump!!!!
> New engine FFS. A new lump is about £500 more than a recon.
> The cost of rebuilding won't be much less than a new unit, is it worth
> it? The car is worth jack as it is and I wasn't planning to change it
> just yet. What would you do?

Why not just repace that piston? Not going to affect the value of the motor is it.

--
"He who says it cannot be done would be well advised not to interrupt
her doing it."

The fiend of my fiend is my enema!


 
GbH wrote:
> Gazza wrote:
>
>>Tim Hobbs wrote:
>>
>>>On Mon, 1 May 2006 10:49:26 +0100, "Richard Brookman"
>>><[email protected]> wrote:
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>>Gazza wrote:
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>>Do you reckon it's worth selling the family
>>>>>>silver and getting the cam etc done at the same time (I can't
>>>>>>really afford it), it's done 99k?
>>>>
>>>>All other things being equal, yes - ~80K is the mileage that most
>>>>cams start to wear through the tuftriding and start to wear big
>>>>time, or so I've heard. If you're having the heads off, you might
>>>>as well - it's not much extra work. Well, some...
>>>
>>>
>>>I wouldn't have thought there was much overlap in the jobs TBH. On
>>>the Disco the cam was done with the heads untouched, but both
>>>radiators had to come out. I don't suppose either would need to be
>>>disturbed to do the heads, although I suppose the coolant will have
>>>to be drained.
>>>
>>>On the P38 it will probably be different, but I'd guess more work not
>>>less than the Discovery.
>>>
>>>The later cams are supposedly better than the 3.5 ones, but my 3.9
>>>one was showing significant wear at 120,000. It was definitely
>>>better with a new one in - revved more freely and ran smoother. But
>>>I don't know that you'll save much money by combining the two jobs -
>>>the garage will be able to tell you I suppose.
>>>
>>
>>They have found the bottom skirt of a piston in the sump!!!!
>>New engine FFS. A new lump is about £500 more than a recon.
>>The cost of rebuilding won't be much less than a new unit, is it worth
>>it? The car is worth jack as it is and I wasn't planning to change it
>>just yet. What would you do?
>
>
> Why not just repace that piston? Not going to affect the value of the motor is it.
>
it's done 100k so the cam and everything else is probably worn. It's
been making a tapping noise for a few days and if the piston was the
source of the noise the bore has probably been scored/damaged. Just
replacing the piston probably won't last long?

G

--

1998 V8 HSE P38
1989 V8 RR Classic

If It Ain’t Broken... Fix It ‘Til It Is
 

"Gazza" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Badger wrote:
>> "Gazza" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>> news:[email protected]...
>>
>>>They have found the bottom skirt of a piston in the sump!!!!
>>>New engine FFS. A new lump is about £500 more than a recon.
>>>The cost of rebuilding won't be much less than a new unit, is it worth
>>>it? The car is worth jack as it is and I wasn't planning to change it
>>>just yet. What would you do?
>>
>>
>> Personally, I'd rebuild the engine myself - to a better standard than the
>> factory ever managed! Doing a top-hat linered 4.0 for someone local at
>> the moment for considerably less than landrover are asking for a
>> replacement std lump. Where are you based, I may be able to point you in
>> the direction of someone that can help you....?
>> Badger.
> Hi Badger,
>
> I'm in west London.
>
> G

Do a search for "Lund Engines" (Devon) or "V8 Developments" (Spalding), if
you want a really good engine. I'm too far away really, in the north of
Scotland!
Dare I suggest, chuck in a new piston and trade it in somewhere,
sharpish-like? (I hate main dealers!!!) Unless the cam and followers are
totalled as well, then they would need changing also to prevent any
rattling.
Badger.


 
>>> They have found the bottom skirt of a piston in the sump!!!!
>>> New engine FFS. A new lump is about £500 more than a recon.
>>> The cost of rebuilding won't be much less than a new unit, is it worth
>>> it? The car is worth jack as it is and I wasn't planning to change it
>>> just yet. What would you do?
>>
>>
>>
>> Why not just repace that piston? Not going to affect the value of the
>> motor is it.
>>
> it's done 100k so the cam and everything else is probably worn. It's
> been making a tapping noise for a few days and if the piston was the
> source of the noise the bore has probably been scored/damaged. Just
> replacing the piston probably won't last long?
>
> G
>
New engine it is, wallet is on life support.
Looks like slipped a liner caused piston to shatter. Cam is worn as
well. I'm fecked all ways, can't sell it as it is and to fix the
existing engine would cost as much as the new lump is going to be. At
least a new engine should be good for another 100K <crosses fingers>!!

Gazza

--

1998 V8 HSE P38
1989 V8 RR Classic

If It Ain’t Broken... Fix It ‘Til It Is
 
On Thu, 11 May 2006 08:18:40 +0100, "Badger"
<[email protected]> scribbled the following nonsense:

>
>"Gazza" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>news:[email protected]...
>> Badger wrote:
>>> "Gazza" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>> news:[email protected]...
>>>
>>>>They have found the bottom skirt of a piston in the sump!!!!
>>>>New engine FFS. A new lump is about £500 more than a recon.
>>>>The cost of rebuilding won't be much less than a new unit, is it worth
>>>>it? The car is worth jack as it is and I wasn't planning to change it
>>>>just yet. What would you do?
>>>
>>>
>>> Personally, I'd rebuild the engine myself - to a better standard than the
>>> factory ever managed! Doing a top-hat linered 4.0 for someone local at
>>> the moment for considerably less than landrover are asking for a
>>> replacement std lump. Where are you based, I may be able to point you in
>>> the direction of someone that can help you....?
>>> Badger.
>> Hi Badger,
>>
>> I'm in west London.
>>
>> G
>
>Do a search for "Lund Engines" (Devon) or "V8 Developments" (Spalding), if
>you want a really good engine. I'm too far away really, in the north of
>Scotland!
>Dare I suggest, chuck in a new piston and trade it in somewhere,
>sharpish-like? (I hate main dealers!!!) Unless the cam and followers are
>totalled as well, then they would need changing also to prevent any
>rattling.
>Badger.
>

V8 Developments? Are they they the same as Discovery Developmentswho
do gas conversions in West Pinchbeck, near Spalding. Less than 10
miles from me.......
--

Simon Isaacs

"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote"
George Jean Nathan (1882-1955)

ROT13 me....
 
Simon Isaacs wrote:
> On Thu, 11 May 2006 08:18:40 +0100, "Badger"
> <[email protected]> scribbled the following nonsense:
>
>
>>"Gazza" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>news:[email protected]...
>>
>>>Badger wrote:
>>>
>>>>"Gazza" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>>>>news:[email protected]...
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>>They have found the bottom skirt of a piston in the sump!!!!
>>>>>New engine FFS. A new lump is about £500 more than a recon.
>>>>>The cost of rebuilding won't be much less than a new unit, is it worth
>>>>>it? The car is worth jack as it is and I wasn't planning to change it
>>>>>just yet. What would you do?
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>Personally, I'd rebuild the engine myself - to a better standard than the
>>>>factory ever managed! Doing a top-hat linered 4.0 for someone local at
>>>>the moment for considerably less than landrover are asking for a
>>>>replacement std lump. Where are you based, I may be able to point you in
>>>>the direction of someone that can help you....?
>>>>Badger.
>>>
>>>Hi Badger,
>>>
>>>I'm in west London.
>>>
>>>G
>>
>>Do a search for "Lund Engines" (Devon) or "V8 Developments" (Spalding), if
>>you want a really good engine. I'm too far away really, in the north of
>>Scotland!
>>Dare I suggest, chuck in a new piston and trade it in somewhere,
>>sharpish-like? (I hate main dealers!!!) Unless the cam and followers are
>>totalled as well, then they would need changing also to prevent any
>>rattling.
>>Badger.
>>
>
>
> V8 Developments? Are they they the same as Discovery Developmentswho
> do gas conversions in West Pinchbeck, near Spalding. Less than 10
> miles from me.......

Nothing about gas conversions I could see but some links on their site
seemed broken to me - http://www.v8developments.co.uk/

Gazza

--

1998 V8 HSE P38
1989 V8 RR Classic

If It Ain’t Broken... Fix It ‘Til It Is
 
On Thu, 11 May 2006 22:03:01 +0100, Gazza
<[email protected]> scribbled the following nonsense:


>>
>>
>> V8 Developments? Are they they the same as Discovery Developmentswho
>> do gas conversions in West Pinchbeck, near Spalding. Less than 10
>> miles from me.......
>
>Nothing about gas conversions I could see but some links on their site
>seemed broken to me - http://www.v8developments.co.uk/
>
>Gazza

different company then!
--

Simon Isaacs

"Bad officials are elected by good citizens who do not vote"
George Jean Nathan (1882-1955)

ROT13 me....
 
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