Outer Limits 4x4 Board

G'day all,

Looks like I might have a new Rangie very soon, it's a 1/88 model, but the motor has the heads off it as it was believed to have blown a head gasket, but was never put back together. It's complete and it's auto (ZF). It is EFI as well, I'm pretty sure it's a 3.5 but how can I tell for sure?? I was under the inpression 3.9's didn't come out till much later (early 90's??). other thing is it's only done 166k....so don't know if I should try and put the motor back together and see how it runs or pull it out and swap it. I have access to an ealier 80's 3.5 on carbs that I can fit and put the efi stuff on it. but read the older motors didn't make as much power, is that purely the efi or are they slightly better designed motors??

Thanks heaps

sounds like a 3.5L but with EFI it could well be a 3.9 from a later model. 3.9s came out in RR Classics in 1989 I think, and in Discos in 1994.

oh and the 3.5 EFI has more powere and better fuel economy than the carb model, and the 3.9 is better again

'88 Specs are 3.5 EFI with flapper type flow meter (not Hotwire injection).
This injection system is great unless you are using gas. With gas it is prone to bachfire and needs an anti-blowback valve to prevent expensive damage to the flow meter.
3.9 motors have 3.9 written on the plenum chamber.
If the motor only has 166k then I would keep it as my motor has twice as many k's and is still sweet. A drop of lucas additive in the engine oil works wonders for any oil burn. WHile the heads are off get the hydraulic lifters done and the engine will give you a fair bit of mileage.
I own an '88 so if you have any more Q's, please don't hesitate to get in touch.

If the heads are off measure the bore 88.9mm or there abouts is a 3.5 and around another 5mm gives a 3.9 .

Pull the lifters out see if there con cave or vex and judge if the cam will be worn , it`s around the right Ks .

The bores etc should be good for another 200ks unless it`s been cooked because of the gaskets , if that`s the problem .

The 80s 3.5 if post 81 it will be 9.35:1 and the 88 will be 8.13:1 both have different cams as std .

The heads are the same other than the air injection holes in the exhaust ports on the early ones and the injector cut outs in the later ones .

The first RR 3.9s had nothing stamped on the plenium cover , looked the same as a 3.5 other than the different injection .

The 10th letter in the VIN should be an E for an 88 model /year

If you can`t measure the bore what are the engine number pre fixes of both the engines .

I have heard that if you efi an earlier carb motor it will produce more power than the original efi motor.

If, as peter says, the 88's have a lower compression ratio, then what I was hoping is correct - having just put 3.5 injection off an '87 on my '84 highcomp. The higher compression ratio will allow more power than put out by the donor of the EFI setup.

However, thats also affected by different cams, and the condition of the motor etc etc....

okay it has a air flow meter.

I believe it's just head gaskets but the sump was taken off and I don't know why, there is no history to come with it as the guy I'm getting it off doesn't know anything about rovers!!

pretty sure it's the original motor as everything else is original on it down to the tyres....

so maybe I should try and put it back together and see how it runs???

Major things rarely go wrong with these motors. The EFI can be a bit dodgy though.
DO IT! I'm sure the motor will be fine.
Some reasons the sump would be off are:
-new sump gasket needed
-looking for causes of another oil leak
-previous owners may not have changed oil regularly and pick-up pip may have needed unblocking (unlikely)
-Checking big end bearings (v. unlikely)

I know these motors are pretty resistant to abuse...done some in the past.

heads and block likley to be warped??

Only other thing there is some slight rust on the bore liners, but very light, just sand it off with some fine sand paper??

Animal Mother wrote:Major things rarely go wrong with these motors. The EFI can be a bit dodgy though.
DO IT! I'm sure the motor will be fine.
Some reasons the sump would be off are:
-new sump gasket needed
-looking for causes of another oil leak
-previous owners may not have changed oil regularly and pick-up pip may have needed unblocking (unlikely)
-Checking big end bearings (v. unlikely)

Its actually common for rover V8s to have worn out big ends. I am yet to pull one appart that hasnt worn through the white metal on the bearings. They still run fine like that and unlike most other motors dont tend to rattle due to this just have low oil pressure.

Its also common for them to block the gauze in the oil pick up due to the amount of carbon that builds up commonly in rover motors.

The other common thing the 3.5EFI engines do is snap crank shafts. The Main bearing bolts are known to come loose and cause this. Mine ran absolutly perfectly and had only done around 185thousand when it just snapped the crank with no warning signs. Dropped the sump and there was a main bolt in the bottom of it. Engine still had good oil pressure right up untill it went bang. I generally dont abuse my motor either as its a Tow Rig not a Rangie i would bother taking offroad.

Guru so as it sits now the heads and the sump are removed?

If the Carbed 3.5 you have is good i would fit the EFI to it and swap it in. At least you know your not wasting money on an unknown engine.

yeah heads are off and sump is removed...

other 3.5 has unknown kms, has been in Sam's buggy.....

GURU wrote:yeah heads are off and sump is removed...

other 3.5 has unknown kms, has been in Sam's buggy.....

After hearing that engine in his buggy i wouldnt use it.

going to put the original motor back together and see how it goes