V8 finally started after 3 years of sitting, over the moon

[disco2hse]

OK. That is quite informative

Sounds like you have done a lot of what should have normally have been general maintenance.

the engine does sound rough - there is a knocking sound that is noticable when driving and on tick over.

Is it knocking or pre-ignition? Does it run on after you turn it off?

If knocking, what octane petrol are you using? I use 95.

Knocking would not be caused by a "cracked engine". But it is more of a rumble?

they have said 'that it sounds like the engine has cracked somewhere down near the bottom end bearings. also they would not give it a test drive down the road incase they put a rod through the side of the casing as it sound like the engine is about to give way' the engine was also never opened up by them
l have been offered a engine (v8 3.5ltr) for £300 untested or arround £500-600 for a tested and approved engine from them.

Umm. Yeah right. As I suspected. Can you get a retest elsewhere?

also they did try balancing the carbs - one of the needles has actially undone itself and fallen into the jet, also the piston was not rising as it should on the dampener piston as the inside had been scored (potentially by myself when trying to adjust the carb)

Might I suggest that is where your high readings are coming from?

l wounder if the timing was ever advanced fro the lpg???

Timing is probably an issue, that and tuning. Then you ought to find that your problems are resolved.

[map1275]

Typical LPG installations are half assed. You have a choice;
- timing for petrol,
- timing for LPG, or
- timing for neither.

The only proper way is to fit a programmable ignition kit. So if you haven't checked your timing yet, it will be worth while.

[5988]

Those engines sound very expensive
I just sold a month ago a 3.5V8 with 60k on the clock, and very good runner for £100 ...

If you carb isn't working properly then that could be the problem
ignition timing would have been advanced for LPG - check

if you want a second opinion ill be passing Coventry on the 13th going to Oxford so can come have a look (or every 3rd Thursday of the month in the evening)

does sound like they are being reasonable with what they have done, and to be honest for a garage sourced engine, by the time they find it, ship it etc and have some profit that may not be to bad

[harry potter]

my suspicion is that the timing has been advanced for LPG. seeing as the carbs were full of dried sand l guess it was run on the LPG for a while.
will have to check the timing then and see what state it is in.
the LPG is been taken out so better make sure its set for petrol.

Is it knocking or pre-ignition? Does it run on after you turn it off? - no as soon as you switch the ignition off the engine stops.

just using normal petrol from tesco pumps. nothing special.

l wounder if there is a way to get a sound clip or video upload of the engine running so you guys can have a look and hear for yourselves. wont be able to make a video until next weekend at the earliest. Youtube link maybe.

[5988]

youtube, photobucket (or other free image hosting site), facebook...
one way you should be able to

[harry potter]

5988 thanks for the offer of the 13th but its another weekend l am away.
the garage defo did say the carbs where not opperating correctly - they were not sliding up the dash ports - however the truck still drove well and accelerated fine on the drive over to the garage. l do have a second set of carbs that may be able to be used.

"does sound like they are being reasonable with what they have done, and to be honest for a garage sourced engine, by the time they find it, ship it etc and have some profit that may not be to bad" - thats what l was thinking. pay the extra money and have the peice of mind that the engine is going to be fine. fit and forget almost. then get out and play. will also encourage my mate to sort his two landy's on the drive.
if l go down that route l will strip the old engine and let you all know whats going on inside it.

await the youtube clip - hopefully next weekend it will be up. next check - the timing

thanks for your help and advice chaps.

[5988]

do you specifically want a 3.5 - there getting old now, even the newest ones

might be worth considering a 3.9 from a RR, they are newer, could be converted to carbs, or run with EFI if you got the whole system-

[harry potter]

now l was thinking about that - put a 3.9 in and convert to carbs.
l am sure its just a case of changing the induction manifold and fitting a carbed version.
l would prefer to keep the vehicle as a 3.5ltr so its still reasonably original or at least inkeeping with the vehicle

what work is involved with converting a 3.9 efi to carbs? not particually good when it comes to electrics

thanks

[map1275]

It depends on precisely which 3.9 you buy.

In general, you can expect to spend several hours stripping the 3.9 back to a bare long motor. Then transferring over everything from your 3.5. Virtually all the ancillaries from the rocker covers and water pump to the engine mount brackets and clutch. The sort of job the average garage would make an absolute mess of.

Plus cleaning and scraping the black death from inside your rocker covers, several new gaskets and handful of sundry new parts.

[5988]

It depends on precisely which 3.9 you buy.

In general, you can expect to spend several hours stripping the 3.9 back to a bare long motor. Then transferring over everything from your 3.5. Virtually all the ancillaries from the rocker covers and water pump to the engine mount brackets and clutch. The sort of job the average garage would make an absolute mess of.

Plus cleaning and scraping the black death from inside your rocker covers, several new gaskets and handful of sundry new parts.

is the inlet manifold from the 3.5 not a strait fit then, as id been told it was when I was going to fit a 3.9

[harry potter]

thats what l thought. throught it was the same block 3.9/3.5 just different cylinder bores and stroke. the valley layout was the same.

anybody know of any good condition 3.5 v8 for sale? also local to coventry please?

[harry potter]

right then.. as there was lot of useful help and advice l thought l would keep everybody updated.
l have sourced a replacement engine for £200 (tested to ensure that compression and such is ok)

did have a quote for just under £2000 for the engine to be fully reconditioned. way more than the truck is ever worth and would ever sell for.

next job is to work out how to get the old one out - ie engine crane/hoist. it is parked on a lawn so going to have to make some sort of platform up. going to make a start removing the ancilaries and radiator.

do the wings need to come off too? - hopefully not! but if more space is required then ok. l do have some tublar manifolds to be fitted and expect some bodywork modifictions to be required to get them to fit.

regards

[5988]

Wings don need to come off, but its allot easier if they do - the time spent removing them will be more than saved not trying to manager around them

I tend to leave the front panel attached to them - works well if there's two of you to lift them, and then not many more bolts to undo

[harry potter]

5988 - the wings will be coming off l think. there are not that many bolts holding them on, seeing as most other bolts have been replaced l dont mind a few more. if its ease of fitting then they will defo be coming off.

had a look at the engine today. been dry stored. all alloy has light surface corrosion on it but will clean up ok.
also has SU carbs instead of the normal strombergs - they are moving nicly so shouldnt have any problems with them.

will need to transfer the distributor from my old engine and alternator accross as missing along with leads and plugs.
will require new oil filter and oil, exhaust manifold gaskits and a fan belt.

roll on the begining of march when l have the week off work to do the change.

[Mrs Bingham]

Do you know what vehicle the engine came from? You might want to look up the engine number to determine it’s origin, age and vital statistics.