Hello and good morning all!
I have run into the dreaded issue of an external coolant leak which has grown too large to comfortable drive the car and so I must change the head gasket. I will be completing this job with my father who is a ex engine re-builder, and after discussing it with him he suggests that we use Fel-Pro gaskets instead of the Erling gasket that is included with the Atlantic British kit. The problem with this is that i do not know what the other seals are included in the kit, also I'm curious if which gasket is better Erling or Fel-Pro? Besides this I would like to know what else I should look to replace while I'm in there, my current list consists of 8mm magnecor spark plugs, and front crank seal (have a oil leak and this is the next seal to replace to stop the leak). Finally my father did all of his work on domestic cars and was hesitant to do this job on a foreign car until I found some information that the 03 engine is a buick 215 from the 60's, is this true? Anything else that I should know before I start?

P.S 2003 Discovery 2 160,000 miles

Thanks!

 

I use the cheap HG kits from Lucky 8 with the cheap TTY head bolts.

I've put 80,000 miles on a truck with that set, 30,000 on another before I sold it.

You do the job correctly and use a 180F thermostat with BMW blue coolant anything will last.

My valve covers never leak either. Cheapy gaskets with a coating of RTV black on both sides.

 

Fel-pro gaskets are great, I used Cometic, but would use Fel-pro. The rocker cover gaskets are molded and you should have everything you need with the fel pro kit.

Make sure and do your valve stem seals.

It’s a Buick 215 and nothing exotic about it.

You can get remanned injectors for $55 so IMO it is worth doing those as well.

 

Search on and do the PCV mod. Also recommend the Bypass thermostat mod but plenty run the stock thermostats. With those miles you should consider changing all coolant hoses - check the waterpump as well for leaks at the shaft seal, or if you cannot remember last time it was changed do it anyway. All the accessories will be out of the way due to taking the heads off. Might want to look at your PS pump, if it is leaking consider replacing the rear gasket.

 

So after ordering the parts my father talked to my grandfather and they came to the decision to not work on it. They are to afraid that their will be ridging on the cylinder walls and that the sleeves will soon slip due to it overheating twice. They have the shop I would use to do the work and with there disapproval I must now sell the car after 6 months of ownership. So I ask how much would you pay for a 2003 discovery 2 with 160,200. It needs a head gasket, catalytic converter, knock sensor, purge valve, new tires, headliner sags, and I think that's it. Could I make 1k and sell it for 2k? Is that too much?

 

with it needing that amount of work done, you'd be lucky to get $1k for it.

 

I doubt you’ll be able to sell it, unless you part it out.

If you love it, park it, and fix it in the future.

 

Did you show your father the Atlantic British video on head gaskets?

 

Yup, they feel that the $500 is not worth the time because they are afraid of ridging and slipped sleeves. They said that of all the Buick 215 engines they have worked on the cylinder will be ridged and need to be machined since the miles are so high, the engine will be a "sludge bucket" due to the fact that there is no PCV. In the end they dislike the engineering in the 215 and are positive that this is not worth it. Told them the car is unsellable in its current condition, they feel that if it runs its can be sold.

 

I buy these rust free in good cosmetic condition for $500-1000 in the condition you describe. Lot's go to the Junkyard for less than $400.