It does look dodgy. But I’m hoping it’s not it. We didn’t need to pressurise the system as water was coming down the back of the valley without it being under pressure. We just couldn’t see from where so we had to just take the manifold off. Which makes me think we would have seen it coming from...

Yes. Wondering about the way it joins the casing. Could be yhe culprit. Wondering what I could do to seal the gap? Does anyone know where the "o rings" are? Apparently I should change them too.

Cheers. I'm well on the way now. Lots of bits ordered. Just getting the top layer of limescale deposits off.

That is amazing. I'll have a good read. Thank you so much.

I’m now wondering if it could be the steel (?) pipe that is attached to the underneath of the manifold that runs the whole length of it front to back. It seems a fair old a steady flow of water from the valley to be just a gasket leak. It did look rusty when I lifted up and half removed the...

Yes. I'm thinking that's the one cheers. I'm off to buy some bits! Thinking of using my multi tool with the light sand paper fitting to clean the manifold surfaces. Good or bad idea?

Hello good people. Shall I buy the tin valley gasket or the composite one. I’m leaning towards the latter and it doesn’t require sealant. Thanks a lot, Pall.

Thank you. !

That is brilliant thanks so much. I did wonder wot people were on about when they mention the seals. I tookk the two metal plates off and didn't even notice the seals. They could well be the culprit. ! Where do suggest I get these bits from? Gasket too.

Thought I’d give you an update as managed a small window of opportunity today. Managed to join the coolant input and output pipes together at the back of the engine with some hose to bypass the corroded aftermarket heater in the cab. But filled up with water and it’s still leaking out the back...

Just ordered some. Thanks very much !

Need to buy a length of hose now that I can bend back on itself without it kinking and and that fits the v8 coolant connections. John Craddock?

Yes. A new one is definitely on the proiority list. Just want to get it running first without it losing all its coolant.

Hope it's not disoved engine! I'm going to see if this improves the situation. Then I'll go down the new rad route and then deal with the heater.

So, after what seems like a very long time, I managed to get deeper behind the engine. Took the bonnet off (which I'd so light once the spare wheel is removed!). Removed air box to reveal the in and out coolant hoses from/ to the engine and through the bulhead to the funny aftermarket heater...

Ha ha Yes. That's a job for once it holds water! The joining of the weird cabin heater is a good idea. Off to the Isle of man now for the last weekend of the TT so I've got a rover sd1 v8 haynes manual with me. To read at night. Such a sado!

Cheers. Will take a good look. Thanks for all your help so far. Learning so much. Most of my hobby experience has been on air -cooled vehicles, so this is (almost) all new!!

Does anyone know if you can access the rear of a v8 through the cab side of the bulkhead. Need to get to the matrix coolant pipe connections. Not sure if I can get down the back of the engine.

It's the original rad from the 4 cylinder set up. Do you think if it's a working rad that it's OK to use with a v8 or should it be one from the early range rover?

So today, 1 step forward, 2 steps back. Fitted new thermostat and housing gasket. Nipped it up. Reconnected top and bottom hoses with new jubilee clips where necessary. Filled up rad. Let it settle filled up again etc. Started her up. No leaks from the work I had done, but now water leaking...