LR3 4.0 V6 thoughts

[swamijake]

I've just completed a re and re of the V6 on a 2006 LR3 and am just dumping some thoughts here for posterity.

- Timing sets do not include the front and rear jackshaft bolts and harmonic balancer bolt which are torque to yield and should be replaced
- Valve keepers are hard to find and expensive so don't lose any
- Block alignment dowels are not available, I had to make replacements after I chopped them off.
- Very easy to miss connections when removing engine and subsequently yank wire connectors off, including the crankshaft position sensor and the oil temperature sensor.
- This is a ford engine identical to that in the 4x4 explorer except for the following - flexplate, intake manifold, throttle body, exhaust manifolds, egr valve and pipe, alternator and bracket, powersteering AC and bracket, thermostat and thermostat housing, so you could use a shortblock out of an explorer.
- Exhaust pipe to exhaust manifold bolts WILL break.
- In order to get at bellhousing bolts best to get everything else disconnected, then pick engine up with hoist, remove mounts (including unbolting aluminum housing from block), then lower engine until transmission is resting on cross member. Then you can fit a ratchet into the top bellhousing bolts.
- I didn't remove the radiator, but cut a piece of plywood and put that in front of it to prevent tapping the radiator with the engine on the way out.
- Didn't need to remove hood.
- The back intake manifold bolts are awful to both remove and replace. I needed a socket u-joint, remove the coolant y-pipe, then shove my left arm under the intake manifold to guide the socket into place. Both awkward and painful.
- Bottom end looked perfect and very stout. Timing chain guides had all disintegrated. My engine was spotless inside otherwise, but have seen another with a lot of sludge build up. Listed oil change interval is 12,000 km which, synthetic or not, is nonsense. I'll do it every 5,000 km.

Very happy with results.

Special tools are required for the timing chains. I'll loan them out for beer.

It took me a little over 50 hours all in. If I was doing it again I'd probably be 30 to 35, in any event not a one weekend job.

[Bill E.]

Awesome list Jake.
Thanks for posting this while it's fresh in your memory.
Hope I never need this information 🙂