Hi all,

Have recently bought a cheeky project which was going cheap - a late 2008 tdv8 with suspected engine failure. To me the symptoms suggest starter motor which I've got on order, had the old one out today and it didnt like spinning - solenoid would throw out the pinion but wouldn't spin. Tried spinning by hand and then it would turn over (sometimes)

Anyway whilst I wait for the bank holiday post to bring my starter motor I was hoping to do a bit more investigating just as a matter of course. I've had a look and it seems the engine was fitted with the use of a massive shoehorn and I can't see an obvious way of accessing the crankshaft bolt. Does anybody have any tips for getting in there without stripping down the radiator, airbox, viscous fan etc etc?

Thanks in advance
Matt

No way of getting to it from below?

That being said. The compression ratio of the cylinders might be a pig to overcome V8 or else ...

I did have a look underneath whilst removing the starter motor and from what I could see the steering rack was in the way? I may not have been far enough forward though as I only removed the rear splash guard so will have another look today if the weather clears up...