I think you will find that weld is nowhere near the cooling jacket and the block has cracked as something has let go in the bottom end in the past.

Hi that’s fantastic thanks very much most helpful

Thank you 👍

Looking good, above the bumper mine is, but don’t have reversing light, want to make sure wiring comes into the little covers inside tub

Check that the little wire from ignition switch to the starter solenoid is not live all the time due to ignition switch or wire fault.

http://smithies.co.nz/land_rover/ S3 parts catalog and more

Did it actually turn the engine over when you tried to start it. Worth cleaning up all live and earth connections on engine, chassis starter and solenoid to shiny bright. Can you remove solenoid, disassemble, clean and bench test

Think there’s some adjustment in the latch position so should be ok, probably first bonnet the striker rusted off it’s original position and then bodged

Based on my S3, if similar could it be a hole in intake pipe in tank allowing air to get in when level drops