This sounds like a good project for you in your spare time or sell it. get the boy a Toyota.

 

@entjohnson Head gaskets are not really that bad to do, particularly if it is a project vehicle. It is just at it's heart a basic V8, I did mine this spring the driveway, last time I did a head gasket was 40 years ago.

It comes a part in a little over a day, back together is slower.

If you go this route buy an ARP stud set, that avoids the whole tty bolt tightening issue and you can do the job with the engine in place.

Here is my thread Head gasket replacement there are lots of others too

 

Replace the head gaskets...then sell it.
It's worth alot more running, but it Will have more issues.
Not if, but when...it's a Land Rover...

 

Once the head gaskets are done, anything else will be minor by comparison or just maintenance related.
I'd do it myself and keep it........

 

Thanks Richard. There's a lot of good info in that post. I also found the AB 2 part video which looks like a good place to start. Will supplement with your post for more details, particularly on the cleaning.

 

Well....had a heart to heart today with my son and he says he's in. Hard to sell it with a known major leak, so either we end up with a running vehicle or we find out its time to part it out and take our losses. I'm thinking about waiting to order anything until after we get it apart since it will likely take some effort to clean everything up and get the heads checked.

I truly appreciate all the advice and info. To be honest, I probably would not have even considered taking this on except for the wealth of knowledge in this forum and willingness of the members here to help each other as well as the newbies out.

I'll let you know how it goes, we are planning to start taking it down this weekend.

Next question: Is there anything else we should plan to take care of while we have it down (assuming it goes well)? Going back through the receipts again, I don't see where the water pump, timing chain or oil pump have been touched. Although it looks like the valve covers may have been worked on at 20k and 37k miles which seems a bit troublesome.

 

@entjohnson Wiring loom might need refreshing, mine fell apart in a lot of places.

Coil packs seeing as you are in there any way, plug wires if they are old and maybe injectors and serpentine belt too everything else can be done later.

Hit your exhaust manifold bolts with penetrating oil for a few days before disassemble and the Y pipe nuts too. 12 point 12mm socket for the bolts if they get tight on the way out more oil then back in and back out just take your time.

And the Big one head bolts get loosened in reverse order to tightening, break them lose and maybe 1/2 a turn then on the next one until you have them all 1/2 turn loose then do 2 turns on each bolt and repeat until they are good and loose. It prevents binding as the head comes up.

 

Yes, yes, and yes. The cost of the parts is minimal. Valve covers can be difficult to get seated correctly, and a gummed up crankcase breather will exacerbate the problem. Shouldn't be a concern. Congrats on deciding to forge ahead. If nothing else, should you decide to part ways with the truck at least you'll do it after going to the mat with it. Mano a mano, the man in the black pajamas, worthy effing adversary and all that. If you conquer this truck you will be rewarded with a sense of accomplishment unlike many others. Discos seem to be pretty tolerant of first timers and not complicated in the grand scheme of things. This should turn out to be a pretty good adventure for the two of you. Take your time, read A LOT, ask a LOT of questions and you'll be fine. The stuff I have read on this site makes me think monkeys could fix these things. If I didn't know better I'd say they put them together in the first place.

Oh, and if you haven't yet, get a copy of the RAVE, the Electrical Library and the ETM. Both of you should read them every day. Read about what's coming up, reread what you've already done, read what you don't envision ever doing.

After thinking about this some more, I think the BEST advice I can give you is to have your son get an account here on the forum. Get him asking the questions and interacting with the braintrust. I've seen this happen a couple times on BMW forums. It will empower him and change his world in more ways than one. Force him (gently) to use his own brain while you hang back and let him front-end this thing. You be the guidance out in the garage behind the actual wrench turning. Repeatedly dragging him out there to play second fiddle to your program will play out in a completely different way, and not necessarily in a good one.

 

Just read all trouble ur having if interested in fixing to list my 2000 d1 for sale no sunroofs cloth interior motor is in great shape with 150k trany needs replaced drive shaft broke hit it clear title over all especially interior bout spotless exterior good shape faded in spots new tire discovery AT 5 new tires I removed headliner to install in my 02 se 2

 

and read through my thread, I just did a whole rebuild of just about everything....so you get an idea of what you are in for:

https://landroverforums.com/forum/di...00/#post678909