OCT 1999 (2000) Land Rover Discovery II 4.0L
A couple weeks back a had a post up about a head gasket problem i was having. after taking down the engine i noticed an areaon the water jacket to the lower intake were the gasket failed and i had coolent leaking into engine. My question is this: I already have the cylinder head on the driver side down to two bolts. One of the bolts stripped on me and it is in such a location were to properly remove the bolt i have to drop the engine (i don't mind doing this but if avodable, all the better). Now what problems might i run into if i justput the other eight bolts back into the head and replace the appropriate gaskets with out removing the head any further. Will this warp the head when i go to torque it down? Will the gasket seal?

 

Hmm what a predicament! Sounds like a "crap shoot" to me. Being as the "seal" hasn't been broken yet it will probably stay sealed, if you can get the bolts back on without warping the head? Guess it depends on where the two bolts are. If they're in the center of the head next to each other it might be ok? If they're on opposite sides of the cyl head then might be bad?

 

one is on the bottom closest to the fire wall and the other is three bolts over on the bottom. i agree sounds like a crap shoot. you are correct though it has not broken the seal

 

Don't do it, sooner or later, you will have to go back in and clean up your mess, do it now.
Go to a good tool shop, even Sears has them and buy yourself a good bolt extractor.
How many miles on your engine? Make sure you have the heads checked for warpage and well as inspecting the valve guides and seals for carbon damage, a somewhat common problem on so 99's.

 

Yeah it's got almost 80k on it anyway.I already went and got that extractor kit from sears. I gotta get over this cold and then i'm just going to drop the engine. I want get my CDL working anyhow, since it's apart i will have more room.

 

What are you going to use to engage the CDL?

 

Iwanted to talk to you about that. It would be nice to hit a button, but i don't know if a solenoid is the best way to go.

 

Call me and we can talk about your options, I have been running a solenoid for over 4 years with no problems.

 

Yep, i will call ya Sunday.