v8 engine change question

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P38 Owner

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Hi All,

The time has come for me to change the engine in my 4.0 P38 range rover.

I have found a later type engine with gems ignition system complete but this was for a discovery II and as such there are some slight differences. The engine I have found is a complete turn key engine and as such has all ancillaries fitted. I know I will have to change the most of the bracketry on the the front of the engine which isn't a problem but the only head scratcher is regarding the sump. Currently I have a pressed steel type with a separate half moon plate on the flywheel houseing. The engine I have found has he later cast aluminium type sump.

Can anyone tell me if this will need to be changed or if it will just marry up to my gearbox with out any issues.

If it needs to be changed is the bolt spacing the same and is the front cover fixings the same.

On another note the engine which is coming out has been fully rebuilt with all new componenets. The block has been machined and had top hat linners fitted the crank has been reground new bearings. new cam shaft, the heads were skimed and completly overhauld with new valves and rocker gear. The front end is brand new including water pump. Every component has been replaced with new parts over the last few months. The engine has covered very few miles. BUT AND THERE IS A BUT. the engine has developed a oil pressure problem which has completly beten us. If left idaling for a few mins when the engine is hot the oil pressure seams to drop to very low levels. But as soon as the engine revs go up its fine with so much pressure the relief valve has to open in the front cover.

So it is up for sale for spares only. All parts fitted were Genuine Land Rover and have cost me a small fortune over the last few months. It may be of use to some one. It is still currently fitted in my range rover and can be heard running should you wish.

Thanks

Bryan
 
how much? i'm currently undergoing the dreaded overheat and coolant pressure problems.

why are you changing the engine?

what cost was it to rebuild and where did you get the liners fitted?

sorry i can't help with sump question,
 
Hi,

The engine was rebuilt by us. the block was machined and had top hat liners fitted by Owslebury Crankshaft services in Winchester. They have done a few for us over the years and would recommend them to anyone. My Engine set me back around £4k in parts but having the block, crank and heads machined cost me £1500 off that.

The only reason the engine is coming out is because of the low oil pressure problem which has developed. It may be something really stupid but I have struggled to sort it over the last few months and really want my Rangy back up and running.

As for price. I am open to sensible offers but I need to stress that it would only be good for rebuilding or spares. (all of the parts on it are new and were genuine land rover parts to) It does run and is faultless to drive. But with the oil issue I am not going to run with it.

Thanks
 
P38 Owner said:
Hi All,

The time has come for me to change the engine in my 4.0 P38 range rover.

I have found a later type engine with gems ignition system complete but this was for a discovery II and as such there are some slight differences. The engine I have found is a complete turn key engine and as such has all ancillaries fitted. I know I will have to change the most of the bracketry on the the front of the engine which isn't a problem but the only head scratcher is regarding the sump. Currently I have a pressed steel type with a separate half moon plate on the flywheel houseing. The engine I have found has he later cast aluminium type sump.

Can anyone tell me if this will need to be changed or if it will just marry up to my gearbox with out any issues.

If it needs to be changed is the bolt spacing the same and is the front cover fixings the same.

On another note the engine which is coming out has been fully rebuilt with all new componenets. The block has been machined and had top hat linners fitted the crank has been reground new bearings. new cam shaft, the heads were skimed and completly overhauld with new valves and rocker gear. The front end is brand new including water pump. Every component has been replaced with new parts over the last few months. The engine has covered very few miles. BUT AND THERE IS A BUT. the engine has developed a oil pressure problem which has completly beten us. If left idaling for a few mins when the engine is hot the oil pressure seams to drop to very low levels. But as soon as the engine revs go up its fine with so much pressure the relief valve has to open in the front cover.

So it is up for sale for spares only. All parts fitted were Genuine Land Rover and have cost me a small fortune over the last few months. It may be of use to some one. It is still currently fitted in my range rover and can be heard running should you wish.

Thanks

Bryan
Click to expand...
Couple of things,first - your RR engine having a steel sump is a Gems engine,the DII will be Motronic.If you fit the DII engine you need to fit a Gems cam sprocket,so the front cover will need to come off.
Second,your oil pressure problem,this could be the outer ring of the oil pump cracking into pieces.I had one like this a while back where it had low pressure and the oil light would take ages to go out from cold.It was a new,not recon engine from LR and all I could find wrong was the cracked pump ring.The owner wanted a new front cover assembly as he had spent the cash and will keep the car for years.Its fine now,and he is happy.Just bear in mind its a very simple,old fashioned motor so a problem will have a known and recognisable solution.
 
i'm only really interested in the block side of things as a replacement for mine. but then again would i encounter the same issues with your block assy or even mine when/if i rebuild it!!

its a very annoying situation to be in!!

i was told of a p38 that went recently with light to moderate front end damage for around 800 quid!! i might end up buying a spare car and swapping out the engine/rebuilding one from the two and then rebuilding a spare engine at my leisure!! it seems a damaged car is alot cheaper than a rebuilt engine, even if it only lasts 12 months, its ample time to rebuild a spare engine and have it stood by as a donor car!!

or i could just buy a bicycle!!!

pm me a price region and, depending on the outcome of the head test and a word with uncle we can sort something out
 
Hi,

We thought we may be looking at a oil pump problem and this has been changed for a new one complete with front cover. I have spent the last 5 months with my engine and have striped it back to a block and rebuilt it twice and still cant sort the oil pressure problem. every time it has had more and more new parts fitted.

I am now really confused now regarding gems and motronic. I was under the impression that early disco II's were gems but I may be wrong. This has now stumped me to what the engine was for.

It is a created land rover 4.0 lump with a Aluminium sump with gems injection system. Maybe some one could let me know what generation it is,

thanks
 

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Not the oil pump then ! Seems strange,my only other thought is that the crank could have been ground slightly too much undersize so as the oil thins it loses pressure out the side of the shells.
That engine in the pucture is a Gems engine as fitted to RR's from 95-99 OR possibly a NAS spec Defender,or a NAS Disco 1 The motronic engines all have an alloy sump and the "banana" inlet manifold.UK spec cars had Motronic in RR'S from 99-02 and DII from 99-05,this is by chassis # - not reg date.
If you fit a Motronic engine dont forget that cam sprocket !
 
thats not the same as mine and i'm pretty sure mines a gems, havnt got any pics but for one thing there is a pipe on the bottom of the intake assy for coolant to the drivers side bank(i think thats where it goes) and the water pump housing seems shallower on mine. will post pics tomorrow as i will be at yard!!
 
Thanks Eightinavee,

Do you know if this engine with its ali sump will fit in place of my gems lump with a steel sump.

Are the sumps interchangable? will this bolt onto my existing gearbox with out any problems.

thanks

Bryan
 
Okay,

I have had the chance to park a later range rover next to mine and compare the engines. It appears that the Aluminium sumped engine will fit my bellhousing on the gearbox. But I need to drill the 2 lower holes out to M10 clearance holes.

Other then that I cant see anything else...

I will keep you all posted to how I get on with the converstion. I am hoping to have my range back up and running by the first of Feb. :) :) :)
 
Hi. I have recently changed the engine in my 4.0 p38 "Gems type" to the one you have described with the aluminium sump with no problems. The sump will fit fine. I did have to change the cam gear up front and use the old crankshaft sensor but apart from this no other issues.
Good luck!:D
 
Hi, Bryan, How much do you want for your old engine, are you sell as a complete lump.my problem is a cracked block or slipped linner, from what i have been told, not had a look myself yet. Colin
 
Hi Colin

I am going to sell the old engine. It will be a long engine. So block with tophat liners, pistons, reground crank new shells brand new cam, new timing chain and gears. New front cover with oil pump, complete with heads. These have been skimmed the valves lapped in with rocker gear. It may have a inlet manifold and plenum but am not sure if I need it when converting my new lump. It will not have any ancillaries, starter motor, power steering pump alternator and braketry.

Please note that there is a oil pressure problem with this engine, thats why it is coming out. It is only suitable for a rebuild. The block and heads have done 10k miles but all the other components including the shells are new within the last 2 months and have not done any work. They were all Genuine land rover as well.

I am open to offers for the engine and will be available early feb once I have removed it from my Range Rover.

If you want any further information please email me [email protected]

Thanks
 
Hi all,

Thanks for all your help on this one.

I have fitted my nice new coscast engine today into my Rangie.

I had to drill out the two lower fixings in the bell housing on the autobox to bolt the new motronic ali sump up. but other then that is is a great success. I am so chuffed to have my Rangie back up on all 8 at last.

Once again thanks

Bryan
 
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