If you step into this, it is a must that you verify who the mechanic is, is he familiar with the engine and all the work and parts he plans on using.
As for parts, yes, there are better head bolts and gaskets out there besides the kits we so often see. You can go thru Car Quest other division, World Part and order German made head bolts and gaskets, I recently did thru my local Car Quest and paid $127.36. Yes, this is more, but you get what you pay for.

 

What?!?! There's something better than the kit from AB?? NOW you tell us!!
So far, so good on my rebuild.... (knock on wood)

Eric

 

After blowing my head gasket and doing some research, yes there are better quality ons out that, learn something new every day, if you are lucky.

 

Thanks for being our "guinea pig" Mike and thinking outside the proverbial LR box, the Disco! My truck runs great because of the years of research and trial & error you have done on LRs and shared with us.

If it wasn't for your gracious help and me following Spike's "oil/coolant/grease/wading (with how-to video)" Plan, I'm not sure I would have survived LR ownership this long.

 

The AB head gaskets are made by Elring in Germany.

 

That may depend on when you get them. The last "kit" I ordered (all the seals including resealing the upper intake and throttle body) was primarily Vic Reinz stuff. The Head Gasket definitely was.

I've never had an issue with Vic Reinz gaskets for anything. I may be biased from Porsche work, where they are considered the ones to use (unless you are doing something crazy like a high boost application).

 

I just got off the phone with my old brother inlaw and got the real scoop on the Rover, its a 2000 built in the 10th month. Does that mean its a 2000 or a 2001? Anyway, it sounds like when the head gasket blew it did something to the radiator too. The mechanic said they would need to put it all back together and do a pressure test to see if the radiators ok. Those that have had a head gasket go, did something happen to your radiator too? What is that about?
Thanks to all

 

A blown head gasket will not necessarily damage a radiator. It could have been the other way around, a damaged rad lead to a blown head gasket. Whatever the case it needs to be tested and replaced if necessary, no use in anyone guessing what could be wrong.