As some of you may have heard my new Turner engine block is nearly paid in full and will be delivered to my mechanics shop in September. It has secondary air injection. The heads will be machined and added to my new Turner block. The original engine block as around 155,000 and a come and go engine tick. The engine ran fine up to the day I dropped my truck off at my mechanics shop and headed to Alaska. She performed well at this years Maine Winter Romp and in the time that I have owned this truck Iv enever had any major engine issues at all. A few coolant leaks here and there which were due to broken plastic hoses and the throttle body heater. At one point a nut or a bolt from the alternator was accidentally dropped down the engine oil filler neck and Im unsure if it was recovered when I attached a shop vac to try and suck it out. I dont believe it went down into the block because there has been no indication. I have used Rotella engine oil for the duration of its time with me though recently I switched to Castrol HM. The block may have a slipped liner but I cannot confirm that nor will I invest any money right now to find out.

So what should I do with this block? I will not be able to bring it with me on my drive to from NH to Alaska. Just to dam heavy and space is very limited as it is. Part of me would like to keep the engine and find a place to store it than down the road lean about the engine and how to rebuild it but part of me would like to see if I could make a small bit of cash on it. Then again maybe Ill donate it for free to a good owner who might be in a situation to rebuild it. Let me know your thoughts.

 

BOOM!! You are welcome.

 

Join a local Nautical forum and list in classifieds as a boat anchor

 

If there is any way you can fit it on the trip I'd take it with you and rebuild it in your spare time. It will be fun an will be worth a lot more when you are done, either as a spare or a sale.

I don't know but I guess that Land Rovers are few and far between in Alaska. You might need it someday.

I've got a spare engine and just having it gives me warm and fuzzy feelings toward my Disco as a long term truck. When my first engine blew, my Disco sat in the garage for five years. There were few warm and fuzzy thoughts then.

 

Wow, somebody finally found a use for a Rover block! lol

 

Rebuild it. Take as much time as you need to do it. You will learn a lot and it will only help you fix your Turner motor down the road.

Didn't know you dropped an alternator bolt in it. That's a pretty damn big bolt.. I'd say either you sucked it out or that's the reason you have a tick.

When you get that new motor. Do the inline thermostat mod. It is incredibly easy and my temps are 186-188.6 all the time now.

 

The inline thermostat mode may not be a good idea for very cold envirorments as Alaska. A new improved Turner engine, all new cooling system plus the 180 thermostat should be more than sufficient to keep my new block cool without doing modifications.

The truck has had a come and go ticking since I bought it in late 2012. I dropped the but or bolt down the engine filler neck this past February so trust me when I say that's not the cause of the ticking

If I had a trailer than I would haul the block up to AK with me but I don't and I'm not about to invest the $$$$ in a road worthy trailer right now. The block absolutely cannot be stored on my truck though.

 

That bolt down the filler neck is astonishing! Sounds like something I would do. Pulling bolt off, get burnt, bolt bounces off of two things and makes perfect, no net dunk in filler. At least I'm sure that's how it would happen to me.

The block isn't that heavy but I've always wanted to drive to Alaska and know a little about the route... I wouldn't want to take up space, either, especially if you are moving.

I'd ebay it.

 

I would find a way to keep this block. From what I can tell you are a hard working guy by your posts. You won't make much money selling a questionable block but you can gain a ton of experience rebuilding this motor. You won't need a mechanic anymore if you go through with it. Part of the joy of owning these trucks is working on them. I think you need to keep it. You and I are very similar in our behaviours with this car. But from what I can tell; and forgive me if I insult you. But you need more mechanical experience. It's the only way to keep these things running for the long haul.


The inline t stat might be too cold for where you are. But you don't have to run a 180. You have options. You can do a 195 or 190. It'l provides way more consistent temperatures. I cannot stress it enough.

Seriously. You obviously love the brand. You should keep this block. You'll be a mechanic in no time.

 

I cannot second that enough. Well said. Were it me, I would have the block inside the house on an engine stand and be working on it on a regular basis to make it perfect.