The V8 Owners Forum -

the water pump takes the coolant from the engine block, into the bottom of the radiator up through the radiator and out the top of the radiator, back to the thermostat and into the inlet manifold etc. That doesn't sound right to me. I understand it that hot water comes in the top and cools and then...

Pay these guys a visit...
http://www.classicroverforum.net/index.php

They are possibly metering sleeves that will create a restriction in the system to maintain pressure upstream for the components in that section of the engine.
That way, if a component wears or fails downstream, that section still has pressure and hopefully doesn't also fail.

I was told by an old-timer to coat both sides of a head gasket with Indian Head shellac and then fit & torque down before it dries. I have done this on petrol and diesel engines without comeback. Alternatively, copper based gasket spray will do. https://www.amazon.com/Permatex-20539-Indian-Shellac-C...

Contact your local flying club and ask them who rebuilds their piston engines.
They should have loads of out of tolerance bits lying around that they may be willing to donate/sell for scrap value.

You could probably get away with a plate of glass and some 1200 grit wet and dry paper and a bit of elbow grease.

I'd first do the sums of a new 12V starter, both high torque or not, AND a new battery, versus rewinding your unit. Hit the truck spares places, they run on mostly 24V and see if there isn't a compatible motor that you can adapt to fit. Also, Leyland being the parts bin robbers they were, look at th...

Would you pay $15k for a billet block? Have a look here...https://discoweb.org/index.php?threads/how-many-of-you-would-pay-15-000-for-a-billet-rover-v8-block.98037/ Think about it hard... A "genuine" (potentially slightly improved) Rover V8 block that will suffer absolutely none of the problems asso...

A mate of mine is an aircraft sheetmetal/structures mechanic and he has a dedicated grinder with a stop to set the corrcet point angle, and then he does the land clearances by hand. Most of his stuff is 3/32'' to 3/8'' maximum.

That little bit of smoke might be an imperfect mating of the manifold to the head. Worth getting that sorted before going any further as it will make a noise too. Chris. I agree with this. Have a look at the exhaust manifolds, a leaking exhaust manifold will sound very similar to what you describe.

Fit the 3.9 cam if you do replace it, it has much better low down torque and is a better cam all-round, your Amazon will be transformed. Don't forget to fit new followers, too.

I guess that depends on you and what your particular sensitivities are.
I saw it as an answer to your question, but you clearly don't.

Pxr5 wrote: ↑

Sun May 05, 2019 10:13 pm

not at all helpfull......

Read the post properly...

The cam wont care...and presumably if keeping a standard cam you dont intend to be using much boost anyway, so wouldnt worry too much.

One of the stud's has broken flush with the block surface and that is beyond my skills to drill out and retap etc OK, let's work on the assumption that the rings do work, great, now you still need to buy the rest of the bits for the overhaul versus paying someone to remove the broken stud for you. ...

Why not just remove the broken studs and finish that engine?