Blimey ,,a few years later and this machine is still providing me sterling service
in 2011 i took the 3.5 out with a view to fitting a 3.9
I stripped both engines and found the 3.9 to be a money pit, but built it up with a fresh camshaft, ported 10 bolt heads and all the usual goodies
intact 3.5 cam lobe
worn to nothing cam lobe
various tappets in varying stages of destruction
Rebuilt the gearbox and found nothing at all remotely worn so just simply reshimmed it and miraculously a silent lt77s !
whilst the engine was out I upgraded the master cylinder to a Volvo 940 unit which was a direct replacement
with 250lb/ft this occured when accelarating up a hill so i beefed it up with some 4mm plate
inevitabley the 3.9 dropped a liner so i swapped it for a rebuilt 3.5 engine which its still running now
i bought this last year , a 4.6 which will be rebuilt with a view for 320+ lb/ft in the midrange