These items are often overlooked when undertaking a top end rebuild. The P6B workshop manual states that the bearings are non serviceable. In fact, right up until the end of production of the V8 engine by Land Rover circa 2004, camshaft bearings from Land Rover were never made available as an OEM item. They are of course available from many Rover V8 engine suppliers.
Provided an engine has had regular oil changes, these bearings will typically require replacement atfter 75,000 miles or so. With infrequent oil changes, much sooner. The bearings have a steel backing which is babbit lined. Worn camshaft bearings can be a major contributing factor to oil pressure loss, in addition to not providing the required support of the camshaft.
To replace these bearings, the engine block once stripped can be sent to an engine workshop that is familiar with the Rover V8 engine, then using the correct equipment removes the old and fits the new.
With my original 3.5 litre engine which was removed after 203,000 miles and the bearings inspected, (oil and filter changes every 2000 to 2500 miles) the babbit lining on all bearings was completely gone... :shock: The camshaft was running on the steel backing, which was noticably scuffed. The undersides of the bearings will always wear first, as the loading is greatest at this point. In my case, had I not been fitting a new engine, then the 3.5 would have had to have been removed regardless in order to fit the aforementioned new bearings.
Ron.
Provided an engine has had regular oil changes, these bearings will typically require replacement atfter 75,000 miles or so. With infrequent oil changes, much sooner. The bearings have a steel backing which is babbit lined. Worn camshaft bearings can be a major contributing factor to oil pressure loss, in addition to not providing the required support of the camshaft.
To replace these bearings, the engine block once stripped can be sent to an engine workshop that is familiar with the Rover V8 engine, then using the correct equipment removes the old and fits the new.
With my original 3.5 litre engine which was removed after 203,000 miles and the bearings inspected, (oil and filter changes every 2000 to 2500 miles) the babbit lining on all bearings was completely gone... :shock: The camshaft was running on the steel backing, which was noticably scuffed. The undersides of the bearings will always wear first, as the loading is greatest at this point. In my case, had I not been fitting a new engine, then the 3.5 would have had to have been removed regardless in order to fit the aforementioned new bearings.
Ron.