Words of wisdom related to 4.0 head gasket replacement?

[sdillen]

Looks like I'm tearing into mine in two weeks due to a coolant leak at the back of the left hand cylinder head. @#$%!

[ANDYD]

Hi Steve,

Doesn't sound like a good start back into the Land Rover world!
I haven't changed my D2 head gaskets yet but I see it on the horizon, I heard sometimes a coolant leak at the back of the engine can be the Valley gasket instead of the head gasket (which is apparently is easier to change). May be worth looking into that first.

Let us know how you get on ....

Cheers,
Andy

[sdillen]

I'm still smiling....so all is good. After all, it's a British Car -- and is exactly what I was expecting (although somewhat sooner than I was expecting).

It's definitely leaking at the head gasket, just below the exhaust manifold at the rear of the engine on the left hand side. I'll be picking up my gasket kit as well as rockers/pushrods and rocker shafts (to get rid of the last remnants of the annoying tick) from Don and am expecting to rip into the engine next Sunday -- hoping to have everything back together before the following week (providing I don't see excessive camshaft wear or other "bad" things once I have a look in the cylinder bores).

I have RAVE and found this P38 engine link. I consider head gasket replacement to be relatively straightforward....it's the aluminum block and the corresponding probability of stripping fasteners that concerns me.

[red90]

I guess if you believe German cars are reliable, you won't get too down about the Disco...

[TOLON]

I guess if you believe German cars are reliable, you won't get too down about the Disco...

edit to read: "since you have a BMW at least you will be able to get around when the Disco is down for repairs"

[Rob]

I have wished my rovers would be as reliable as my diesel VW Rabbit but at least I have a reliable parts "getter"!!!! :)

As far as the heads on the 4.0... my 2001 D2 has been weeping a few drops of anti-freeze at the rear corner on the driver's side of the block for 3 years without ill effects on driveability. Yours might be more severe so usual caveats apply but that has been my experience. I keep it topped-up and use a catch-tray on the garage floor for the drips (as well as the non-toxic brand of anti-freeze). So far so good.

Cheers, Rob

[sdillen]

The heads are off and the cylinder bores look good. The engine isn't nearly as sludged up as I expected it to me and I'm targeting firing the engine on Friday. I only broke one stud (exhaust manifold to pipe flange on the passenger side) which is a unique condition in my experience. I'm chalking it up to all fasteners having been soaked in 30 weight parts loosener for the last 14 years.

I probably could have waited a while now that I see the internals of the engine, but I've put 10k on the Disco in the last two months and would >really< rather avoid calling my wife and telling her that my toy broke down again.....And yes, her E90 is doing a great job at fetching parts for me and my daughter is starting to make noise that maybe I should be teaching her to drive in the E32 instead of in the Disco!

[sdillen]

Fired the engine on Thursday night and am back in business. And, best of all, the only "spare parts" I have from the job are a few plug wire clips -- not bad in my book! The engine sounds much better now that I replaced the rockers/shafts/pushrods.

I worked slowly and intentionally didn't drag an air line out to use air tools so I wouldn't screw anything up. I figure it was about 5 hours for me to disassemble and maybe 10-12 to put it all back together. My biggest mistake was bolting the upper intake manifold on and then looking over at the bench and seeing all 8 fuel injector retaining clips laying in a nice, neat pile. I hate it when that happens.

[ANDYD]

Hey Steve,

Congrats on what sounds like a job well done! Lets hope it now gives you many years of reliable service! I bet you know a lot more about your LR than you did a few weeks ago!

Cheers,
Andy