P38A Replacement engine and now it works - P38 DSE

Hi all,
My FIP saga finally ended when I bought a replacement engine. Trying to find reputable P38 mechanics / specialists is a bloody nightmare as we all know. All I wanted was the static timing done. Then I noticed the occasional EML flash as my foot lifted from the throttle. Search RR sites for symptoms = FIP on the way out. Bollox. I'm not paying over a grand for a new FIP or £600+ for refurbished when I can get the correct engine this time (plastic manifold one) with full history and in great condition with a working FIP!

Time to bite the bullet. Looked for a replacement engine and a few hours and some phone call's later I found one. How refreshing to deal with a decent Range Rover mechanic! Dave and his dad at East coast 4x4 interiors (they have a shop on Ebay) were great. If you see anything on their shop phone Dave first before you do any Ebay messaging (hint hint).

The only problem for me is they are 240 miles away! The engine has 142,000 on it, new pulleys, new fan, new belts. The donor had been serviced for 3 years by Dave and his dad before being sold and broken for parts.

So I drove for 6 hours across to Suffolk in my "Black Arrow" - think red arrows smoke but black diesel. Work around to stop the smoke was manually gear changing and using revs not foot to make the beast move.

Dave rang me to update me "Do you know that you don't have the correct gear box fitted to your car?" "Eh?"
"The correct wiring loom doesn't fit your gear box as it doesn't have the plug. I'm going to have to change the correct wiring loom for the old (aluminium manifold engine) and hope it all works.So I have to now take off the correct loom and now re-fit the old loom".
"Ok"

****.

I won't bore you with the details but some of you may remember my saga with a Congleton based workshop who should be called "Bodgit & Scarper". [Cutting out while driving on Cheshire lanes 5 minutes after leaving their esteemed establishment, not starting and leaving me stranded, the EML light coming on while driving, temp gauge being totally eratic, steering lock not recognising the key fob randomly, low range now not working and a huge oil leak from the sump. It had NONE of those problems before it went in.]

Now how did my RR have a new engine and gear box all those years ago and now have an old gear box that it didn't come with? Hmmmmm. I'll let you have a ponder on that dear reader, but I have my thoughts on how an older box seems to be in it based on my disappointing experiences with them....
He also told me that the gear box only had 2 bottom bolts holding it in!! Maybe that explained the clunking.

Dave found a leaking power steering pump pipe and fixed that and kept me updated and informed every step of the way. How bloody refreshing!!!

If any of you do use their services please say that Hoppy highly recommended them. Will I use them again? Is it worth the drive? YES!

Yes I would.

Great result. Assume these are the guys: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09676378

Wonder if you can take Stinky and Berky to court for nicking your old box?

Bought a few bits from them on ebay

Grrrrrr said:

Great result. Assume these are the guys: https://beta.companieshouse.gov.uk/company/09676378

Wonder if you can take Stinky and Berky to court for nicking your old box?

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Hi Grrr yes that's them. I would love to take Stinky and Berky to court but as always "it's not what you know, it's what you can prove counselor".

Mukiwa said:

Hi Grrr yes that's them. I would love to take Stinky and Berky to court but as always "it's not what you know, it's what you can prove counselor".

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Hmmm. Any pictures of the old box?

Didn't the AA or RAC or someone used to rate garages with a mystery shopper? Could tip them off. Or maybe the BBC's Watchdog.

No unfortunately, but then I didn't expect the box to mysteriously swap itself out to be honest. I did think about that to be honest but on the way out of their garage last time I did have a chat with a possible customer and said I'll show you the list of faults my P38 has come OUT of this garage with compared to what it went in with. You decide if you want to use them. He paused and then walked away. So did I whilst laughing my head off.

Over the years my trust level in garages has gone from some to absolutely not trusting them at all - and yes that is a broad brush statement. The problem is once you get familiar with them they go and screw you over.
This is through various experiences from VW T2 bus, Mondeo, XKR and now the P38. Which is why where possible I try to do all my own spannering. I can read a manual as good as the next man hahahaha

Mukiwa said:

No unfortunately, but then I didn't expect the box to mysteriously swap itself out to be honest. I did think about that to be honest but on the way out of their garage last time I did have a chat with a possible customer and said I'll show you the list of faults my P38 has come OUT of this garage with compared to what it went in with. You decide if you want to use them. He paused and then walked away. So did I whilst laughing my head off.

Over the years my trust level in garages has gone from some to absolutely not trusting them at all - and yes that is a broad brush statement. The problem is once you get familiar with them they go and screw you over.
This is through various experiences from VW T2 bus, Mondeo, XKR and now the P38. Which is why where possible I try to do all my own spannering. I can read a manual as good as the next man hahahaha

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Don't suppose you took any Nanocom shots? Might have the box serial number on the gearbox screen?

Unfortunately I didn't have the nanocom back then....