Which way to go.....

vaultsman

Well-Known Member
Forumites may have seen in this section that Occie, my 3500S, is pretty poorly at the moment and won't be coming out to play for a while.
Long story short, the main and big end shells are badly scored and she can't get oil pressure above 20psi. But worse is the fact that the two main crank journals I've checked so far are also showing scoring. :mad:

I did a top-end rebuild on the original 10.5:1 3.5 8 years ago, including fitting Range Rover heads/inlet manifolds, composite gaskets, 3.9EFi cam, and duplex timing set.

Now, I could just have the crank reground and fit shells to suit but I'm considering getting a short (or even a long/strip) engine....maybe even a 3.9/4.6.
I'd like to get away from the P6/SD1 oil pump if possible.

Thoughts/suggestions/suppliers, anyone?
 
I know Ron runs a 4.6.....what configuration do you have on your engine, Ron? i.e. front cover, etc.
 
Just thinking aloud.

The 3.9/4.6 engines have their own problems, and I think you've been very unlucky to experience the problem you had with your 3.5 oil pump. I've certainly not seen that one before, so I'd probably stick with a 3.5.

Problem is that a crank grind is expensive, but you could find a good used crank fairly easily I would think.
 
You're probably right re the oil pump, H...but having had it happen, it can knock your faith a bit. :)

Hasn't the top-hat liner approach cured a lot of the potential ills with the larger capacity lumps?

Am I right in thinking cranks for autos and manuals are different?
 
This I don't think is bad value, depends on finances.
Rover V8 "Top Hat" Cross Bolted 4.0/4.6 Cylinder Block. - V8 Tuner
These engines consume vast amounts of money, I am building up a 4.6 for my car with a top hat linered block and the bills just keep coming.
I would grind the crank and stay as you are if you need a quick economical fix, otherwise the long haul to more cubes is way more expensive.

Yeah, I've looked at his offerings, plus the other usual suspects.

I've had Occie a long time and I can't see me ever wanting to let her go so not necessarily looking for a quick fix, just sorting out a route...and interested to hear other people's experiences.

Before I do decide, I'll need to have a look at the bores of course - which I've never touched.
 
I have got a delivery mileage SD1 crank here somewhere (in the loft I think) which was perfect, but it's been lying around for so long that you probably wouldn't get away with a polish, it would probably need a grind, which is a shame, as it would have helped you out a bit, but if it does need a grind it's no better than the one you've got.
 
Hi, Good steel in a crank tends to not rust pit so deep so readily, so an electrolysis tank first might be a wise move because it will take the rust and not the metal like a polish with emery would.

Colin
 
Sorry to hear about your trouble. Time to inspect the bores! With luck you can re-hone them and re-use the pistons and rods, right? Just out of interest, what does it actually cost in 2017 to have a 3.5 litre crank re-ground, and to get the right set of shells? What about swapping to a remote oil filter, and/or using an electric oil pump instead? If I understood correctly the Buick V6 has a timing cover that fits, but a better oil pump. I stand to be corrected here!
 
Have you measured your crank? Is it out of round or scored?
Damaged shells is one thing but that doesn't necessarily mean a new or reground crank.
 
I know Ron runs a 4.6.....what configuration do you have on your engine, Ron? i.e. front cover, etc.

Hi Stan,

I was thinking about you and your Rover as I drove to university yesterday. From my point of view, given the engine needs to come out regardless of what you decide to do, I would opt for a 4.6 replacement. My 4.6 was installed circa June 2007, and in the years that have followed, has covered some 153,000 miles (246,000km) of trouble free Rovering. The engine has been faultless, idle oil pressure at running temp is 30psi, just like it was when fitted. Apart from the normal consumables, the engine has not cost me a cent in that time. Sure it was expensive at the time, but so would rebuilding my original engine have been.

Configuration wise, I am running an SD1 timing cover with genuine oil pump gears, a P6B oil pump base. The distributor was at the time a NOS 35D8, with a wobbly drive replacing the original. It was re-graphed as the bigger engine needs less advance compared to the 3.5 to deliver maximum torque. I run it at 12.5 degrees BTDC @ 600rpm. The block is a Thor, top hat liners fitted, 8.37 : 1 CR. Dyno testing show that for automatics, the low compression engines are the better choice, as they deliver a greater percentage of torque at lower revs, making them superior to the HC engines up to 3000 rpm or so. My camshaft is a custom ground high torque - highway configuration, made in Australia.

Are there any negatives that the 4.6 has compared to the 3.5? No, in my view, the 4.6 is a vastly superior engine, the bearing caps don't come loose, the inside of the engine doesn't fill with dry dirt, the engine does not purge coolant in the way that the 3.5 always did. The 4.6 is a smoother engine in power delivery than the 3.5, the crank, rods and pistons have all been factory balanced to a far higher standard that that used for the 3.5. I love my 4.6, it has transformed my Rover, making it infinitely more enjoyable to own and drive. A couple of P6B owners have had a drive, and they say the feeling and sensation that you receive behind the wheel is fabulous.

If you decide on a 4.6 replacement Stan, I will offer all the assistance to you that I can. I know that you will not be disappointed. If you choose to go for rebuilding your 3.5, then again, anything that I can do to assist, I shall. Speaking from the position of having made this decision, I knew of no one who had done this to a P6B before, at that time. The Range Rover business that did the swap had not done one before either, my Rover being their first P6B engine upgrade. I read widely, sought different opinions, and then decided. I spoke to the gent who owns the Old Auto Rubber company in Melbourne. He had a P76 Leyland 4.4 litre V8 in his P6B, which he said was an incredibly satisfying transformation. He said the difference though was that his 4.4 would deliver more power, but my Range Rover 4.6 would deliver more torque. So the decision was mine to make. Now in hindsight, was it the right decision? Most certainly! Would I do the same again if I had the choice? Absolutely!!

All the best Stan,
Ron.
 
Last edited:
So....life and other jobs having got in the way, as they do, it's now time to give Occie the attention she deserves.

I've now got the 3.5 out of the car and stripped and, apart from the obvious re-shell that's needed, a couple of the camshaft bearings look very suspect, and all the core plugs need changing. I'd probably get away with a bore hone and new rings.

Having said that, I quite fancy doing something a bit different for a project. I've had a couple of chats with Paul at V8 Tuner, and he can offer me a barely-used 3.9 block that, although it hasn't been done as yet, does have the facility for cross-bolting should I ever need it. Better main caps, and it would also come with a stud kit.

Pistons would be 9.35:1 which I'd plan to use with tin head gaskets for the existing Range Rover heads. (Occie's been running composite gaskets with the original 10.5:1 pistons since I did the top end about 8 years ago).

I've been running a 3.9 EFi cam since then as well, but I'd probably look at fitting the Crower 229 or similar this time.

Paul can offer me a reground crank with Glyco/Clevite bearings at a good price.

I would change the camshaft anyway if I stay withe 3.5, so I reckon the change would cost me about £700 - £800 net....sounds good to me. :)

There are always pros and cons with these things.....so comments welcome please!

Stan
 
Sounds like a great plan Stan :)

Just one thing, if the 3.9 block is not be to be fitted with top hat liners, then it would be advisable not to use a thermostat above 82 degrees C.

Ron.
 
Cheers, Ron.

Yes, Paul & I discussed this very point. In fact, Paul's of the opinion that a considerably lower stat should be used......around 76 degrees! :eek:

I know Des Hamill's book confirms this.
 
Interesting about the thermostat, I will have to check mine, if I ever get it back...........

The 3.9 is a good way to go, and your starting with the same spec as mine, without the roller rockers (an indulgence on my part).

If you would like it, I have an intermediate serpentine front cover with Colin. This has the BIG benefit (after your previous woes) of the oil pump driven by the crank. You would need a new gear on the distributor....
Lots of people say the serpentine doesn't fit, but a couple of people on here have done it. When Colin trial fitted it in mine, his only comments were that the A/C compressor fitted, the PAS pump nearly fitted and that the alternator would not fit without alteration. You would only need worry about the alternator!

Thinking it would be quicker, and not wanting to pay for his R&D I told him to swap for a V belt front. He was a lot more comfortable with this option, but was probably a mistake on my part...... So its waiting if you want to add that to your project ;)
 
Very kind of you, Peter....and I shall look into this with interest!

Who else on here has gone this route then? I think the interim covers still used the short-nose crank, but with the longer keyway?
 
Last edited:
Back
Top