personally i would have just had my stock block machined (line honed, top hat liners, decked, etc), had the heads worked over, and then done final assembly myself. measuring for bearings is easy, double checking with plastigauge, installing them isn't bad either. use upgraded hardware, better cam, the works. Not to mention there are several books/articles dedicated to all the tricks and upgrades that have developed through trial and error on these things.

Not sure why people list the lack of Rover v8 specialists in the states as a reason not to do a traditional rebuild/ upgrade. its just a small block pushrod v8. any builder worth his salt could straiten one out, check for defects, install liners, etc.

all that being said, Turner seems to have a good rep and im sure you'll get a great product.

 

Just as a closer to this saga, a pal had his single seater race car with his tuned Turner 4.0 V8 in the back some years ago, the bloody car flew around the race tracks without any issues. It was a real screamer on revs. He was a very happy bunny with their engine. Hope yours goes well also.

 

I was too, but they are a pleasure to deal with. I will still email them with questions, and it's been years.

 

+1 on what KingKoopa said.

Back in the day alot of guys used the nailhead buick for hotrods. I found an 80 year old guy that runs a machine shop. He used to run sprint cars 40 years ago and has forgotten more about these motors than most shops will ever know.

When I originally asked if he could rebuild my land rover motor he said he was not interested. Then I popped the hood and his eyes lit up. After the work was done my wife re-named that truck to "old Thunder" cuz it goes.

 

Our new motor should be landing in the US early this week. Timing couldn't have been more perfect on this after last night. I got a call from my wife saying the oil light just came on, and the engine has a horrible knocking sound. She checked the oil, and that was fine.

We had it towed to the house, and I looked into it this morning. Looks like the oil gear grenade on her, and the Rover is now down. Thankfully we have a front cover coming with the new engine.

 

Phew, I panicked, I had to read your post twice, I thought initially the Turner engine had gone crook on you after all my recommendations.

Even the old engine flunking out is a bitch though, pity, you may well have a seized engine, hopefully not, you may be able to sell some parts off of it.

 

We should be OK with the engine. My wife said she felt it happen, and pulled over within 30 seconds. Luckily she was getting off the highway when it happened, and was almost stopped when she felt it go.

 

As long as the engine bolts up to the transmission you could probably fit a BMW engine too.

Of course that is a lot of work and hacking but..
It is doable

 

Our engine has landed, and is now in awaiting customs clearance. Can't wait to get working on this.

 

Have a 4.6 with what appears to be the slipped sleeve problem. We pulled the number five sleeve and found the wall behind the sleeve has a crack.

Is that block shot, or can it be resleeved with a top hat style sleeve, with or without repairing the crack?