Dibble

Hi All, Just to update you. I dismantled the top end and discovered 2 head gaskets under each side! Warning bells... We also found that the return pipe from the heater matrix was pinched as the previous owner had disconnected the heater and just connected one pipe to the other. We actually think this was the cause of the opverheating but by this time the heads were already off!! The lovely people at AAA (Gordon) checked the heads and confirmed that they had never been skimmed so AAA mig welded round the water ports (pitting and corrosion from normal water being used in coolingh system) and then skimmed them both. A good clean of all the valves and rockers/shafts and a gasket kit later and she wouldn't start. AAA picked her up and sorted out the HT leads (DOH) and then installed a proper Heater Matrix bypass and also we removed the throttle body heating and a bypassed thermostat plus a set of core plugs and some new engine mounts. After that a quick trip to RTA for a test and it only failed on tyres and front upper and lower balljoints. These were all sorted by AAA and it's back on the road registered and all legal. The bill from AAA was also quite reasonable and Glenn at Al Quoz was brilliant. Not the cheapest but i would much rather pay a bit more for someone who know what they are talking about.... Since then she has done 4000km with no heating issues and yesterday a run out to Al Ain and when we got there i poppped the bonnet and was able to put my hand straight on the engine without any issue. No pressure build up in the expansion bottle either. It still leaks a bit of oil from the front crank seal but this is also lubricating the timing chain so as they say "If it's leaking it means there's oil in the engine." We even went out into the desert the other week and I was amazed at what it would do on the sand.. Many thanks Gordon and Glenn and the rest at AAA.

Hi everyone, Well after much discussion wit heth guy I bought my P38 from we are finally going to transfer ownership to me tonight. Assuming all goes well I may sort the thing out and use it but it still has a blown head gasket so does anyone happen to have or know of the whereabouts of a decent 4.6 V8 for sale? Not sure if its worth salvaging the old one as it got very hot when i had the overheating issue initially and i know this can be a big issue! Thanks everyone. Quick Update I do now officially own the Range Rover after the previous owner eventually paid all of his RTA fines and we did the transfer.. Yay my faith in humankind has been restored...

That was going to be my next idea. Any suggestions on where to get a replacement engine? I've also got some magic goop coming over, K-Seal I have friends in the UK who are into the forward control landies and other military vehicles and they generally throw large V8s into them and they swear by it. They are also running on LPG which i believe is a hotter burn in the engine? I figure for 25 pounds it's worth a go before i take a drastic move. According to the hype it will repair a hole of up to 0.5mm in a gasket which is quite impressive if it works. Anyway it's worth a try. Many thanks for the Advice Gaurav and i'll drop you a line for the compression tester.

Dear All, I have a 4.6 V8 with overheating issues and after trying everything I can think of (including rad change, water pump, thermostat, blowthrough with hosepipe) I have come to the eventual conclusion that it must be the head gasket. Now I've also noticed that there was a small weep from the core plugs so they will need changing as well and I'm wondering if it's really worth the effort or to just get shot of the thing! Does anyone have a pressure tester so i can at least figure out which cylinder has gone as I can't seem to find one. Am in JVT District 1.0559830499 She starts up fine and sounds lovely but boils up in the space of 10 mins! or does anyone want a cheap project? Regards Chris

Dear All, I purchased a 2002 P38 a little while ago and have hit a big snag in that the previous owner has never registered the car to me and has now vanished. I have a registration document with his name on it so it's not stolen or anything and I have a receipt of sale to me. It has an overheating issue which I believe to be the head gasket or gaskets or possibly block. I Have changed rad, waterpump and the thermostat but to no avail it could still be a waterlock in the engine but I've tried everything to clear it without success. She runs OK for a short while then boils very quickly with the rad at the top very hot and cold at the bottom so I'm assuming that the exhaust gases are pressurising the top of the jacket also the water pump whines at this point so I presume that the exhaust pressure is creating an air lock into the pump. All body panels are OK with a couple of minor door dents in places and electric seats are all OK. As it's not registered to me I can't sell it as a road vehicle but it is a decent car to strip for bits. Make me an offer! I'm notching this one up to experience! Regards Chris - 0559830499

Many thanks guys, i was about to take my P38 to them to get the springs sorted out, don't think I'll bother now.

Hi Chris here or Dibble, I've been around land rovers for a while and fabricated some nice winch mounts for a couple of friends for 90 Defenders which sat the winch just out of the front grille (instead of the huuuuge bumper mod) I Had a classic in the UK which i stripped and was rebuilding before my daughter arrived and never got round to putting it back together, I got as far as replacing rear arches and body cross member plus inner wings and patching up footwells etc!! Just bought a 2002 P38 for 14k which appears to be incontinent amongst other things. I probably should have guessed from the price but it looked so pretty and the V8 sounded lovely. Am currently wondering whether to spend the money and sort it out or cut bait and run! UPDATE! I just went to Sharjah at the weekend and am now feeling much more positive about owning a RR P38. No matter what the condition I'm pretty sure that I can get whatever I need with 2k of the Sahara Centre. If anyone is going over there this week to a scrap yard can they pick me up a seat belt catch for the front passenger side?

Cool thankyou, I did go to AAA and they did an excellent appraisal on the vehicle. I might go and find a garage and see if they'll let me do it with their gear, at least then I know the job is done properly.

Hello, I bought a Range Rover 4.6 Westminster and have discovered that the "conversion" that was carried out to change from air suspension to springs was done by placing the rear springs in and then putting the seating plates on top of the axle. Not bolted down at all. So every time i go over a speed hump (and there are lots everywhere i go) the rear end makes a terrific twang as the spring smacks the body of the car! Front end is OK though. All it needs is a spacer bracket or even to weld the plate onto the axle bracket! Am currently in temporary accomodation and waiting for all my gear to arrive and so I currently have a Leatherman as my toolbox! Will reimburse for assistance of course. Thanks Chris.