Running Again

The new cork gasket for the sump arrived on Friday from 3 Brothers Classic Rovers and so today the sump went back on, and the fluids were put back into the engine. Only the parts necessary for running are presently assembled, in case something required disassembly again. Opened the choke, turned the key, pressed the starter, and the engine started without a problem. It ran for a full half hour, to full temperatures, at various rpm's. Not a single leak visible. Perhaps it's just my imagination, but it seems to run even better than it ever did, quieter and smoother. Or it's just buttering me up for the next set of problems. Either way, can't wait to get out driving again!

A special thanks go to 3 Bros. for having the cork gasket made. It's a high quality part. They are also planning to do other gaskets in cork, as per the original specs.

Below, the choice of sump gaskets. On the left, the paper/cardboard one, in the middle a thicker cardboard one, and on the right the new cork gasket from 3 Bros. I had already determined that the one on the left would almost certainly leak, and the middle one less likely but with still a high probability. The cork one, which matches the original seal, looked perfect.

The three thicknesses. The cork gasket is 1/8" thick. The bolts holding it in place were torqued just to the point where the cork started to visibly spread near the bolt holes.

Voila, with all the principle parts reconnected, after the test run. There just remains the dangling and disconnected wiring, wing, mudguard and wheel to re-install. The Land Rover now has a rebuilt oil pump, water pump and timing mechanism, new front crankshaft oil seal, plus a new heater core, to go along with everything else that's been done.

More Waiting

The Land Rover is presently just waiting for a sump gasket that looks as if it will seal properly. The rest of the engine has been reassembled. The sump is a problem due to the flange not being perfectly flat where it meets the mating surface on the engine block. Due to the way the sump was stamped out, the flange undulates slightly between the bolt holes. A papery-cardboard gasket left enough space between the bolt holes to pass quite a thick feeler gauge through at those points. This would clearly leak. I have a thicker cardboard one, but unless the cardboard is quite compressible, I think there's a high probability that will leak, too.

The original gasket was made of cork, and that would appear to be the correct material to use in this instance. 3 Bros. has asked a gasket maker to come up with some cork examples, and I'm hopeful that with a little luck they will  be available to test some time next week.

Below: Not too clear, but does show the undulating surface. Were later sump flanges flatter?

Heater Core Arrives

Some 4000 km from Vancouver to here, in a very short time! The replacement heater core for the Kodiak arrived today from Falcon Enterprises, and looks good. Of course, haven't put it to the test yet, but it looks in good shape, and must be sealed as there was a slight hiss of a pressure differential when one of the blue tube caps was prised off. The core itself has a sticker attached from Vista-Pro Automotive LLC, and so it's fair to assume the part was made by them.

Did a test fit, and no problem there, unsurprisingly. Now to put the Kodiak back together and re-install the unit.

Below: the new core has the blue tube caps. Very similar overall to the original core.

Waiting

Seems like a long time, when waiting for parts! Just need the new water pump gasket and the new heater core, but they're taking their time. I hope the core will be here this week (presently in Vancouver, according to tracking), and the gaskets could be next week depending on Customs. Starting to get withdrawal symptoms from not driving the Land Rover! : )