Hey Everyone,

New to the board, but have been doing a lot of research and finally picked up a Disco II. It's a little rough & needs some work but it was cheap enough to take a gamble on!

2003 112k miles, HG is leaking. $800


I've compiled a list of what I think is needed based on what I've read. I'd love for you guys to double check my list to see if there's anything I'm missing. I know for sure some of my quantities are off so any help is much appreciated!

I'd hate for it to go into the shop and either have to last minute order a part, or worse they put it back together and I've forgotten something could have been replaced while it was apart!

Thank you!

*Ignition wires were done recently, so that's why there's only plugs.
*Lower Radiator hose not available yet



*Cylinder Head Gasket set

 

Welcome to the forums. You did a fine research. I thinks thats more than what I replaced during my HG and tune up. Good luck!

 

For less than $30 you might as well replace the throttle body heater plate while you have everything off.

 

You don't have a fuel filter and buy the green ethylene antifreeze and have the cooling system flushed thoroughly. I would go as far to request pics & video of the flush as this is a process which cannot be half-assed or you will have issues with blockage down the road but you need to get away from the red DexCool. Pentosin makes a red antifreeze that has a different chemical makeup than DexCool; if somebody else is doing all of the work you could investigate that product where you could maybe get away with interaction of old Dex remaining in your system after it's been drained.
You also need the lower coolant hose assembly along with the small, lower radiator hose. You made note of this but just know there are 2, 1 of them being assembly with plastic fitting and the other connecting radiator to thermostat.
That headgasket replacement kit will not have the 2 water outlet Orings & even if it does, they won't be the proper size. 1 for the outlet pipe to heater matrix & the other is manifold to outlet elbow. Loctite, antisieze, you need a new header tank with cap, if the orig isn't damaged during the work at least buy a new cap for it but the lower spigot tends to snap off when you start moving the tank around. Go 15w/40 on the engine oil, use distilled water with the antifreeze. You definitely need to order those 2 Orings for the coolant outlets; I've had that same kit there and had to return it. if you don't test all of your injectors for spray & pattern then you will need a rebuild kit or new injectors. You also need 16 lifters; some or all of them may be seized and takes time to disassemble & reassemble to proper working order: new units are cheaper than labor/hour$$. Pulleys or the bearings for them is another thing, especially if yours are still the originals.

 

Usually the HG kit contains this but the VR make does not. You should verify for certainty and get 1 if you aren't bypassing the TB heater like others do. You would be better off with a thermostat made by Land Rover, the low temp tropical version to be exact. I don't know what that Colorstat no name brand is but don't do that to your Rover. You need to run a top shelf 180-deg thermostat, otherwise the motor is going to run too hot & you are back in the same boat. Have the radiator tested for flow, buy yourself an UltraGauge to monitor your operating temps (-200f, preferably) and you need a new set of headbolts for the cylinder heads. You cannot reuse the original head bolts and your head gasket kit doesn't come with new head bolts. That's a big one...

the garage doing this work needs to have a LR master tech on the staff. The LR Disco2 has its anomolies and the guy working on or overseeing this job has to possess experience or you will spend $3,000 and have a head gasket leaking again in 2 weeks so do your due diligence or you will be 1 unhappy customer. I wouldn't trust anybody to replace HG on these things, too many details. You will pick it up with a Check Engine and Oil Pressure lights burning hot.

 

A few orings you may be missing:

When you remove the oil pan, there are some orings for the oil cooler lines and strainer pickup.

On the lower intake manifold where the coolant elbow attaches, there is an oring on that.

You may want to consider replacing the fuel injector orings since you'll be removing the fuel rail.

Most would also advise replacing coil packs, wires, and plugs since you'll have everything off.

 

Thank you for all the awesome responses guys! Its great to learn from your experiences.

So here's what I've adjusted:
-Changed coolant to green ethylene glycol based
-Added Thottle body heater plate to list
-*already had fuel filter
-expansion tank cap
-Head bolts both lengths
-fuel injector o-rings



Still searching for the 2 o-rings for water outlet, would you happen to have part numbers? Also searching for oil cooler o-rings part numbers

Will have shop check the lifters when heads are sent out.

Is this the lower coolant hose assembly (#20) you are talking about Chubbs878?

 

Your truck doesn't HAVE a fuel filter, other than one that's built into the fuel pump housing.

 

Really? Damn, I'm using the WorldPac system to order the parts, and it was showing that available.

Thanks for clearing that up!

 

You've got:

ESR1594L - Oil Cooler Pipe Oring
ERR4794 - Oil Pickup Oring
ERR7202 - Coolant Elbow at Intake
ERR6434 - Heater Pipe at Intake