I currently have a 2000 Disco II with an Engine issue.

It is a 7 passenger, ACE Equipped vehicle with the rear entertainment package.

I've replaced:

Rear Air Bags
Front Drive Shaft
Brake Rotors (performance brake kit with slotted and dimpled rotors)
Front Calipers
Brake Pads
Drag Link
Track Rod

A year ago, I hit a steel pole in the parking lot (I know - complete brain fart) and I replaced the front grill, radiator core support, condenser and the hood and repainted everything from the rear quarter panels forward. I also had a custom winch bumper made by Hard Labor Creek Fabrication and installed it at that time. (Next time, the pole will lose!)

As a former Industrial Arts Teacher, turned High School Principal, I have complete access to a vocational school shop and know how to use all of the tools, including the paint booth, so everything was done to my satisfaction, which I'm sure is more particular than anyone working at a shop I would have taken it to.

Recently, the motor overheated, very briefly, and on a drive to an athletic event a considerable amount of coolant made it's way into the oil pan. I drove it home, so I'm pretty sure that the bearing wash that would have occurred would necessitate a complete rebuild or replacement.

Given the fact that I didn't have the tell-tale signs of white steam coming from the exhaust, I am left wondering if the motor might have developed a crack in the block behind a liner, which allowed the coolant into the oil pan below the combustion chamber.

I've priced replacement engines, that have been redesigned to solve the issue of slipped liners by using top hat sleeves and that also line the water jackets with a teflon material to eliminate the porosity issues in the block. Additionally, these redesigned motors have longer duration cams to improve engine performance over stock.

The cost for replacing the engine, along with new hoses, belts, gaskets, etc will end up running me around $8000.

The rest of the vehicle is in great shape, but I know I can buy another Disco II for about the same amount of money, or maybe just a little more.

I'm sure I could sell the custom bumper separately from the Disco and then sell the Disco to someone for a parts vehicle.

Any idea what it might be worth with a bad motor and no front bumper?

I'm trying to make up my mind what to do...

 

Paul Grant would know.