I have a 1995 Discovery with the 3.9 V8 engine. Was thinking of having the engine rebuilt but I'm seeing conflicting reports. Several places recommend a used engine as rebuilding does not last, at least according to them. I have no experience with aluminum engines so I'm in the dark.
Joe
If it's rebuilt properly, with the correct parts (note, I didn't say genuine!!) then there's no reason why it shouldn't last. Badger.
What's up with it?
Mine's just passing 135K, and the cam that came out last week was surprisingly OK. Timing chain was shot though, apparently. It runs a bit better now, though other issues are clouding the improvement.
If the block is cracked or porous, rebuilding it won't help. If it's just worn cam / timing gear then no reason not to. It cost me about £500 to have mine done, including parts and labour. Still got to get the air con recharged though - how much is that likely to cost me?
That was my thought too but I got this from a site that specializes in rebuilt engines. When I entered that I wanted the 3.9 v8 a message came up that they do not recommend rebuilding.
Joe
3.9, 4.0 and 4.6 have all variously had 'issues' with porous blocks. Thus if you are losing water etc then it _may_ be down to this.
Trouble is (this according to Warren) everyone now assumes that a 3.9 losing water is porous and junks it. He's recently seen research to show that this ain't necessarily so (apparently in a recent comic article).
Doesn't seem to affect Discovery anyway, only Range Rover. Summat to do with different engine management mappings creating higher temperatures in the rangie installation.
On or around Sun, 18 Apr 2004 19:38:39 +0100, "Badger" enlightened us thusly:
even if rebuilt with genuine parts there's no reason why it shouldn't be pretty much as good as new.
'ere, that's something I've been meaning to ask, what's the view on camshaft bearings? worth changing the shells? lots of hassle? easy?
I've a decent low-mileage 3.9 cam plus drive sitting in the shed, together with matching low-mileage followers, and some of real steel's nice tubular pushrods, and a couple of near-new rocker shafts. All this, eventually, will get fitted into the current engine (which don't look bad, camwise, it has to be said).
But I'm wondering about the camshaft bearing shells.
I think I took it to the wrong place for work. They said I had a blown headgasket and could fix it. I then got a call on the day I was to get it back and was told that one of the threads for a headbolt in the block was stripped. So they ordered a helicoil for it. Tomorrow I'm supposed to get it back.
My money says tomorrow they will call with another problem, I think they're over their heads with this vehicle. I've resigned myself to the fact that I'll have to pull it away from them and go somewhere else. But the damage is probably done by now and I'll be searching for another engine.
Joe
TH >Still got to get TH> the air con recharged though - how much is that likely to cost me?
Tim,
£60 tops....Neil
with rear aircon fitted cant find the info anywhere, all the charts list front only Al
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