My series 1 v8 - rear rope seal advise!

B

badrover

Member
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This is my series 1 v8 - a bit if history before I pose my question if that's ok?
I bought it a couple of years ago after the car having been off the road since 1983. I planned to do the mechanical work including top end engine overhaul (cam, timing gear, pushrods, lifters, real steel high output oil pump) replace the inner sill, re bush and replace the whole braking system. I completed this over a period of 6 months and the car passed its Mot 15 or so months ago. Here she is last summer shortly after passing the MOT. Yes, I used it as it was found, dragged out of its barn, except for the work listed above. The ride in this car is sublime and belies its rather lives in looks. The engine is beautifully smooth and has great oil pressure. I always planned to use it for 12 months, then set about phase 2 of the restoration - spraying and fitting a set of replacement panels which are in lovely condition, clean up the engine bay and spruce up the interior, replace body rubbers, bumpers, lamp units etc to hopefully give me a stunner of a series 1. This work is now underway and I've removed the engine and gearbox to clean it all up and replace the rear crank rope seal. This started dripping very shortly after it passed the mot and I'm after a bit of advice as I have read a few stories about the success or otherwise of replacing this. I've no experience of bottom end engine jobs so I'm a bit unsure if how best to tackle it.

The breather pipes and flame traps are clear.
I have no reason to believe that main bearing wear may be an issue as the engine runs a treat
Is the high flow oil pump exacerbating the leak?
Could it be the case that it's many years of layup have lead to it drying out and a replacement will solve the problem?
The engine is out so should I buy a Chinese finger and tackle it?
Or, (this where my knowledge runs out) do I lower the crank a bit to do the job properly? If so, how easy is this?
Is it worthwhile checking bearing wear or is this a big dismantling job?
Any advise in this situation would be much appreciated!
 
When I bought my car it had been sitting for a long time and the rope seal leaked rather badly - but after I put a few hundred miles on it the leak stopped and hasn't been a problem since.....
 
Your car has a great look about it, it is a sister car to mine which I found dry stored in a barn since 1984.
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It is so easy to look at the main bearings whilst you have the engine out, and if the crank is not scored you may drop it a little and replace the shells, same for the big end bearing shells. The rope seal will then not be a problem to replace. A timing chain set will be in order as well as a good look at camshaft condition.
You do not say how many miles ? mine has 87k and I am still running it as found, although a motor change this winter is the plan.
 
With all this refurbishment going on, dont forget that " its only original once "....

badrover ..
I love the look, totally unpainted, a bit of clear on the rusty bits and mechanically perfect, and you have a wolf in sheep's clothing on the road, best part no door dents , because
no one wants to park next to you in the car park, win win on both counts? :D
Peter
 
stevevanderveer said:
When I bought my car it had been sitting for a long time and the rope seal leaked rather badly - but after I put a few hundred miles on it the leak stopped and hasn't been a problem since.....
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Thanks for that. I've read that quite a bit but mine was having none of it! It seemed to get worse with use!
 
ButterFingers said:
With all this refurbishment going on, dont forget that " its only original once "....

badrover ..
I love the look, totally unpainted, a bit of clear on the rusty bits and mechanically perfect, and you have a wolf in sheep's clothing on the road, best part no door dents , because
no one wants to park next to you in the car park, win win on both counts? :D
Peter
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Thanks, so do I. I love the look. In fact when it's been to local shows it seems to get more attention than immaculate cars. It seems wrong to cleanse of it of its originality and restore it but needs must I'm afraid. I have another p6 that's is in the early stages of restoration and that's the one I really want to keep, so I need to get some money in the bank to pay for it. Hence the phase 2 restoration of this one so it can be sold for good money, hopefully.
 
cobraboy said:
Your car has a great look about it, it is a sister car to mine which I found dry stored in a barn since 1984.
View attachment 11059

It is so easy to look at the main bearings whilst you have the engine out, and if the crank is not scored you may drop it a little and replace the shells, same for the big end bearing shells. The rope seal will then not be a problem to replace. A timing chain set will be in order as well as a good look at camshaft condition.
You do not say how many miles ? mine has 87k and I am still running it as found, although a motor change this winter is the plan.
Click to expand...
That's a nice looking car. Tobacco leaf is a very underrated colour, suits them well. Thanks for the advise. I've already completed all the top end stuff so it should be good for a bit. I've turned the engine upside down today, removed sump, oil pan and pick up to reveal the crank. It seems that I need to remove the rear most main bearing bolts and slide out the casting which will reveal the lower half of the rope seal. Can I then just loosen all the main bearing bolts to get enough movement to get the new seal in? Or, will the big ends , con rods and Pistons have to come out?
 
The chinese finger tool needs a longer seal, and doesn't give as good a result as fitting the seal into the block directly, and to do that you'd have to remove the crank, but the pistons can be carefully pushed up the bore to get them out of the way. Don't mix the caps and shells up though.
 
cobraboy said:
Oh b******s

Do you know where I can get some brown paint ?
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I have seen a series one land rover completely stripped of paint and the aluminum polished, looked amazing, now that finish on your car would be original, ( before the paint booth) and with a coat or two of clear
would be totally unique in Great Britten! in fact the world..:)
 
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