Rover V8 Rebuild

[fish]

Not going to do the miles so won't bother.

[v8 racing]

Hi fish a little secret for you!! even the really really old v8 heads will run for around 30k miles on unleaded even more with such a low compression engine, personly if it was mine i would just run 3 to 4 tanks of unleaded to 1 leaded should save a few bucks!

[Mrs Fish]

James here:

Bugger, just run it up to temp for the secound time and I've noticed quite a coolant leak from under the water pump. I'm right in saying it's either the water pump has gone or the bottom hose is leaking and spraying water onto the underside of the pump which is then dripping down. It's started all of a sudden therefore I'm going for the bottom hose rather than the water pump seal. I don't think it is the water pump cover gasket as I didn't touch this and it didn't leak previuosly.

Any thoughts appreciated, hoping it is the bottom hose as I don't have to take all the front off again.....

[boosted ls1]

I reckon most rovers will run unleaded as they had to for the US market for many years. I can't imagine the rover plant running production lines fitting hardened and unhardened seats. I'd be a bit wary of ancient pre-sd1 heads but they aren't much cop any way.

[v8 racing]

If its running down and spraying on the front pulley chances its the hole under the water pump to let you know the seal has gone fingers crossed though it may be the hose

[Mrs Fish]

Thats the one I expected that....arse, I'll have to take the rad out..again and a new pump...£30.

I'll have the exhaust in after I get back from the factory tommorrow and I'll run it up to temp and see what I can see.

I'll still be hoping it's the hose.

[eliot]

Classic symptons; was working fine before rebuild, put it back on and fire it up and it leaks.
It will be the pump, there's a little hole underneath the drive shaft. Water pumps dont like beeing left "dry" for any period of time.

e.

[fish]

It's not the pump... its the gasket...

Take everything out tonight and rebuild. Is it worth a new pump anyway as I'm stripping it down again

[iainb]

Can I be really cheeky and ask where you are getting water pumps for £30 - I cant find any that are priced anywhere near that

[AndyS2]

Me too! I just had to buy one for Range Rover V8 and it cost me £52 and that was for a re-conditioned Britpart item not a brand new one.
Whilst were asking cheeky questions!! I don't suppose your interested in selling your engine stand now you've got your engine back in??

Andy

[fish]

The engine stand only cost £46 from machine mart so it's hardly worth buying from me, I may as well hang onto it for the future as I may well need it again.

Water pumps are availiable for early V8s for about £35 from Paddocks and John Craddocks.

I have a slight leak from the water pump gasket. I don't really have time to take it all apart and fix it properly. If I use Radweld to stop it does it create any further problems.??????

[fish]

SO does anyone know whether it is okay to use rad weld??

[danny hoffman]

I wouldn't use radweld. These jobs are always quicker the second time around.

Danny

[bga]

I used radweld on an old Astra and was fine for the 2 years I had it.
Did the same on my Renault and needed a new waterpump + rad within 2 months.

On the balance of things I won't use it again

[fish]

The saga continues, I spotted on Sunday the head gasket is blowing and preasurising the coolant. Dooh!!

Anyhow been speaking to some people and I may just put some new heads on rather than get the old ones skimmed and refitted.

[Sheepy]

James,

Here's an idea what trying to fix leaks using leak-stopping products could do to your radiator over a short space of time:




I had two small leaks and used umpteen bottles of a certain product (not the one you mentioned) to stop the leak. In the end I had the rad recored and this was the state of the old one.

Sheepy

[fish]

Update time..

Afterthrowing my teddy out the pram with the engine it's now being finished...

It was the pump so it's getting a new pump and the heads which leaked are going back on with a composite gasket after a skim.

Hopeing to have it all running for the weekend.

Does anyone know why the engine should run RICH if I've removed the restricters surely more air allowed in results in a leaner mixture before I have it reneedled.