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VVS210



Member Since: 12 Nov 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 946

United Kingdom 
RPI V8 info
Evening folks,

Does anyone have any experience of RPI rebuilt V8s please?

Going to look at a Disco 2 tomorrow that has apparently been fitted with a 4.6 RPI V8. Have checked the car out with DVLA & they are still showing it as a 4.0 so I'm looking to establish first of all if it does have an RPI engine, I believe they have their own serial numbers on them, does that mean the original serial number is removed & where can I find the RPI number please?

Thanks.
Post #810882 18th Jan 2020 5:56pm
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Rashers



Member Since: 21 Jun 2015
Location: Norfolk
Posts: 3328

United Kingdom 2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Corris Grey
If that's the RPI Engineering who are based just outside Norwich, they have been going for years.

They were some of the first people to do LPG conversions on V8's (Mike Brewer visited on a Wheeler Dealers).

I have no experience of them, just that they have been going for years and I haven't heard anything bad about them.

If this is who you are asking after, I hope that helps?
Post #810898 18th Jan 2020 8:10pm
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VVS210



Member Since: 12 Nov 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 946

United Kingdom 
Thanks Rashers, that's them. Seller says the D2 has an RPI 4.6 in it & I want to make sure it has, I know V8 engine numbers are in the block between 3 & 5 but believe there is an RPI specific serial number somewhere - anyone know where please? If I can find that it'll confirm its an RPI engine & hopefully I can speak to them & find out more about it. Any pointers much appreciated.
Post #810915 18th Jan 2020 9:42pm
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Shroppy



Member Since: 25 Feb 2016
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 846

United Kingdom 1986 Defender 130 V8 Petrol HCPU Aintree Green
If it's an RPi engine it should have an RPi number on the flywheel housing (though RV8's don't technically have one).

Here's a photo of where mine is located, I suspect you might have difficulty seeing it when fitted to the vehicle though;



Click image to enlarge



RPi have a good reputation, and are very helpful. I'd ask the seller for a build sheet for the engine, it may be completely stock or have tuned heads etc. Failing that, if you have the RPi number then you can probably get the build sheet from RPi themselves. 1985 127 V8 Build Thread
Series 2 109"
Series 1 80"
Post #810951 19th Jan 2020 9:34am
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VVS210



Member Since: 12 Nov 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 946

United Kingdom 
Thanks Shroppy, that's really helpful Thumbs Up

I'm guessing that when its fitted the number will be on the nearside of the engine rather than the top? As you say, possibly difficult to see but I'm going to be crawling under it anyway so maybe better chance of seeing from underneath? Can use the phone to take photos/video so even if not directly visible may still be able to capture it.

Seller doesn't have the build sheet as it was in the car when he got it, story is the LR specialist he bought it from transplanted it from a P38 it had originally been fitted to, hence my wanting to check first and foremost it is actually an RPI & then to get the engine number & contact them to see what they can tell me about it.

Assume that if it is an RPI then issues such as cracked block & slipped liners are no longer a worry?

Thanks again for another example of help from a great forum.
Post #810960 19th Jan 2020 10:55am
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Shroppy



Member Since: 25 Feb 2016
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 846

United Kingdom 1986 Defender 130 V8 Petrol HCPU Aintree Green
Just popped up the workshop to check, when viewed from the rear (where the bell housing bolts on) it is stamped on the top left side directly behind the head. Best bet to view it would be looking between the bulkhead and the back of the heads, you might just be able to make it out, I'm not overly familiar with Disco engine bays unfortunately.

I wouldn't have thought anyone would bore out an earlier block to 4.6, so I suspect it will be a cross bolted block which is a big plus. It will almost certainly have top hat liners if its been rebuilt.

Is it running GEMS? They're great engines, my friend Mark at Tornado Systems has a cracking video of a D2 they tuned with a 4.6 on YouTube. 1985 127 V8 Build Thread
Series 2 109"
Series 1 80"
Post #810962 19th Jan 2020 11:09am
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VVS210



Member Since: 12 Nov 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 946

United Kingdom 
Shroppy - you are a star sir!

Unfortunately you were right about not being able to see the number on the installed engine... bulkhead is too tight & even using my phone I couldn't get an image showing whether there was a number there.

Have got the original engine number which checks out to an original factory 4.6 from a '98-'02 Range Rover so can see if RPI can cross reference their records tomorrow.

Bad news is that on inspection there was 'mayonnaise' in the top of the filler tube & cap & the owner said he has had to top the coolant up since he bought it in May last year - suggesting there is something amiss with it.'
Post #810991 19th Jan 2020 1:53pm
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Shroppy



Member Since: 25 Feb 2016
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 846

United Kingdom 1986 Defender 130 V8 Petrol HCPU Aintree Green
Happy to help!

Would you be able to read the number with the help of a snake camera/endoscope? I have a feeling RPi only keep a record of their numbers, but could be wrong!

Mayonnaise is not a good sign, but it might be an easy fix and end up being a great vehicle. I'd speak to RPi and see if they can give you any other tips to determine if it's one of theirs.

If you were closer to Shropshire I'd happily pop over and have a look at it with you, did it sound ok when running? 1985 127 V8 Build Thread
Series 2 109"
Series 1 80"
Post #810999 19th Jan 2020 2:55pm
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VVS210



Member Since: 12 Nov 2016
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 946

United Kingdom 
Unfortunately I don't have an endoscope, that's exactly what is needed.

I'll see what RPI say tomorrow then take it from there.
Post #811023 19th Jan 2020 5:37pm
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