Misfires on 5-8 are most likely ignition, spark off the same coil. If it's a dead mis, you need a coil, if just a little rough, a tune up might take care of everything. And yeah, head gaskets are a needed repair on most of these trucks, but once done, and done properly, you'll be good for a pretty long time.

 

Dang, ya'll scare me LOL. If it has already been done once (I have no idea if it has) is there still a good chance it will be done again? Like is this an every 30k miles thing??

 

if done correctly a 70-100k task.
there are people out there with original head gaskets, but they are the minority not the majority

 

Ah you answered my next question as I was asking it! Thanks Roverguy, at least there's some hope that I won't spend my life replacing gaskets. The head looks like it may have been sandblasted at some point, here's to hoping that means it's already been done and recently (and well).

 

So when you say 'correctly,' are you talking: spec head for warping and machine if necessary, new head studs, clean mating surface, check valve guides and such?

I assume incorrectly is just: pull heads, slap down new gasket, tighten down old studs, drink beer?

 

You pretty much have it, the head will need machining, give the machine shop the valve seals that come in the head gasket kit and have them replace them at the same time.
use Arp head stud kit instead of the rover bolts.
new tstat, hoses and belt.

 

Thanks guys, wish me luck!

 

You will probably need HG's replaced eventually.
Telling clue may be a mis fire on 1 or 2 or 7 or 8.
I replaced head gaskets in a parking lot.
Took me two weeks.
And, I probably did not go the best job.
I just cleaned up the surfaces, new stretch head bolts and put it all back together. Did this at
96,000 miles.

Symptom was a cylinder #1 misfire.

Flickr: Landroverdude2's Photostream

Good luck

 

Yeah so from what I can tell, I will be replacing them eventually if they haven't already been done... which they may or may not have. No way of knowing for sure other than the heads look like they may have been sand blasted at some point.

Either way, I bought it! No going back now, will post pictures this wkend!

 

You would be better served doing a leak down test.