Second replacement engine arrived today, but I noticed a small gap between the cylinder liner and the block. In the photo its on the right side. The original had melted the block at that cylinder, the second had a cracked bolt hole at the same cylinder, and now this. Why is it always the same cylinder? The liner is level with the block like all the other liners, but no other ones have a small gap like this. Does this mean that the block is cracked behind and coolant will enter the cylinder through here? Is this block usable. If not im at my wits end.

 

Does not look good, but there is a shelf at the bottom of the liner to keep them from moving down too far. I would pressure test it before using it

 

Is there a diy way to pressure test? I have an air compressor.

 

@evil_goat Nope it needs to be tested hot - I got a quote to get a spare block tested at an engine rebuilder of 250 cdn for a hot test 2 years ago. But never need to do it, as my engine is good

 

The nearest machine shop is two hours of driving away. The only one in the town near me said that he wont do landrover engines. Does this look bad enough that there is a significant chance of block failure and will need to be pressure tested?

 

Send it to the machine shop or send it back and tell them to replace or compensate you shipping ..

All that hard work just to have a problem sooner .. no way .. .it's too much and if you're paying a shop it's what $3,000 in the USA today? something like that? Not worth the risk. Tell them to help you.When you go into business only your word matters .. you stand by your word and take the hit .. . as a cost of doing business and a good reputation. I lost thousands $$$$$ in my business for my mistakes and mistakes not my fault .... things my customers don't even know about .. . even when I could have easily "gotten away with it".... I refused to do it and always honor my word. That's why my clients trust me and it paid off years later with a good word of mouth reputation. I pay this price to be my own boss. 20 years ago I made a promise - I will never work for someone else again.

You gonna get them to send you a perfect unit .. too much work is involved on your side. Send it back.

 

@evil_goat Yes it looks bad enough that I would not trust it without a hot pressure test. And you local machine shop is a jackass it is just a pushrod V8 nothing special

 

You can do it cold but the results are less reliable. You would need a kit to block off everything. More complicated if you wanted to do it hot. There are a few youtube videos on it. IMHO the best option is buy from a reputable LR breaker who is willing to stand by the block.

 

I did a "low pressure" block test. I put some rtv around the coolant holes and stuck some cardboard over them. I then put the compressed air nozzle through the small coolant hole on the face of the block and put rtv around that to seal better. My seals did not work that great, and pressure was lost in about 5 seconds if I stopped the flow of compressed air. I put various liquids on that gap on the liner, and did not see any bubbles while "pressurizing" the block.

I assume this means that there is not a giant crack, and I will probably still take it to the machine shop if I can find one.

 

tell the shop it's an old Buick 215 block.