So my 2003 started the doing the knocking from the sleeves slipping. I have seen different options for addressing this, what is the best solution for this issue?

Thanks

 

I think the consensus is that there are three options, listed here from most-least expensive

1. Replace the block with a Turner block that has top hat liners. This will prevent the problem from reoccurring in the future.
2. Pull apart your block, pin the liners, replace head gaskets & machine heads, and reassemble.
3. Just keep driving it - there's a smaller school of thought that has seen these trucks go for tens of thousands of miles with the ticking from slipped sleeves.

 

You don't have to pull anything apart to pin the liners.
http://www.landroverresource.com/doc...g_V8_Liner.pdf

 

Reading through that PDF (directly attached here) it looks like you might be able to do it without pulling off the heads but it'd be awful hard to do correctly without looking inside the cylinders right?

 

You should be able to do it with the oil pan off the bottom of the engine. Maybe take the opportunity to replace the rod and main bearing shells at the same time.

 

i have been researching the pinning process. Really, the ticking is the only issue i have dealt with so far....knock on wood. Would starting with an engine out of another rover and rebuilding it be a legitimate option?

 

That is a legitimate option and the route that I believe Sixpack is going down. If that's the route you choose to go, I would start with a 4.0 block and swap in 4.6 internals and upgrade the cam and replace all of the bearings and seals. If Sixpack chimes in he knows much more than I do. Whenever my headgasket decides to go I plan on pulling my motor and tearing it down and going this route.

 

How do you know it’s a sleeve making the tick? I would be checking a lots of other things first, rockers, pushrods, tappets, bearings, etc. A slipped sleeve while it can happen is somewhat rare.

 

Not to mention exhaust and vacuum leaks...

 

I pinned mine with the engine out, but it's definately doable in the truck(with a right angle drill).
I also got 4.0 to put my 4.6 internals into, as my 4.6 cracked.
I would also agree that alot of things in these engines tick, and a slipped sleeve wouldn't be my first guess.
The best way to tell if a sleeve is slipping is to remove the heads. If any have slipped, they will leave an impression in the bottom side of the head gasket, basically a ring from where the sleeve has been hammering the gasket.
But, if you just want to pin them, all you need to do is drop the oil pan.
If you do a full engine rebuild, plan on $3k+ in parts.
I eliminated everything in my engine that could tick, individually, or in groups of parts.
The rod, main, and cam bearings where all worn out in my great running 122k mile 4.6
It ran quiet until it warmed up. Then, the gremlin woke up, got his ball peen hammer, and proceeded to beat the **** out of something in there(the bearings).
Check out Toddco engines too, they have top hats, head studs...and 340hp for $6500. Looks like the best deal going for a crate engine.
Regardless what you end up doing to fix it, you'll likely have to tear it all apart to pinpoint the noise.
Does yours tick on cold startup? Only after it warms up?
You may get lucky and find that it's just an exhaust leak too, never know.