Here is the situation, my 99 D1 has developed the dreaded engine knock that is a slipping liner. A little back story on the vehicle, I have owned it twice, I originally bought it in 2004 from the Land Rover dealership that I was working at and drove it for a few years and then sold it. Many years later I was browsing the local car ads and noticed a Disco that had a very similar appearance to my old D1. I loved the truck and always regretted selling it so I went to take a look and sure enough it was my old D1, it had been badly mistreated by its owners and was in need of some TLC. I made the guy a low ball offer and he took it.
The biggest issue that it had when I bought it was that it was overheating due to a bad t-stat. The thermostat was an easy fix but the previous owner had driven it while it was overheating and had caused a liner to slip. It would bang like crazy when the engine got hot but wouldnt use coolant and once the thermostat was replaced it never overheated. I drove it like that for almost a year and then decided that it was time to replace the block. I sourced a good used block and then gathered all the components to build up a 4.6 to put it in. I swapped the engines and was very happy with the way it ran and overall was getting the Rover back to the condition I wanted it. I spent a lot of time fixing rust on the rear cargo area floor, repairing water leaks from the windshield and rear alpine windows, sandblasted the frame and repainted it ect ect.
About a month ago I loaded up the D1 to go camping and made it about 15 miles, we pulled over to grab some drivethrough and when I rolled down the windows I heard the dreaded knocking noise again.... I lifted the hood and the expansion tank was ballooned up and leaking a little coolant. Damn it.
So now I am back where I was to begin with, I dont know if the block I used wasnt in as good as condition as I was told it was, or if I am just unlucky. But now I need to decide, do I spend the time and money to replace the block again. Or do I sell it as it and give up on my Rover?
What would you do?
The biggest issue that it had when I bought it was that it was overheating due to a bad t-stat. The thermostat was an easy fix but the previous owner had driven it while it was overheating and had caused a liner to slip. It would bang like crazy when the engine got hot but wouldnt use coolant and once the thermostat was replaced it never overheated. I drove it like that for almost a year and then decided that it was time to replace the block. I sourced a good used block and then gathered all the components to build up a 4.6 to put it in. I swapped the engines and was very happy with the way it ran and overall was getting the Rover back to the condition I wanted it. I spent a lot of time fixing rust on the rear cargo area floor, repairing water leaks from the windshield and rear alpine windows, sandblasted the frame and repainted it ect ect.
About a month ago I loaded up the D1 to go camping and made it about 15 miles, we pulled over to grab some drivethrough and when I rolled down the windows I heard the dreaded knocking noise again.... I lifted the hood and the expansion tank was ballooned up and leaking a little coolant. Damn it.
So now I am back where I was to begin with, I dont know if the block I used wasnt in as good as condition as I was told it was, or if I am just unlucky. But now I need to decide, do I spend the time and money to replace the block again. Or do I sell it as it and give up on my Rover?
What would you do?
