I’m about to do the front cover gasket and have already taken the heads off. My 04 disco has 166k miles on it.

My question is, are the timing chain, gears and oil pump gear NECESSARY items to replace at this time or just “may as well because it’s apart.”

I’m asking because I’m on a tight budget, have way too much into the car already and need to sell it. I actually had a buyer lined up when the timing chain gasket went and leaked coolant into the oil.

 

Replace the chain($30), timing gears should be ok.
Remove the oil pump cover and check to make sure the oil pump gears haven't cracket/broken in pieces(common problem).
Oil pump is also cheap.

 

Thank you. I’ll wait on the pump gears then

 

If you want you can send us a pic of the chain once you have the cover off - show flex by pushing in on it till tight. BTW, I have never replaced one and never had a failure - 12 Discos...

 

The one I took off this 4.0 looked new, but had Alot of slack in it, and slack on both sides.

 

This seems like a lot of slack to me. I’ll order a new chain

 

Have you removed the inner cover and checked the gears?
Mine looked ok, until I removed them, and found that the big gear was actually broken into 3 pieces.
I replaced the cover and pump gears.

 

not yet. That will be tonight