I got an engine from the junkyard and finally took the heads off today. None of the cylinders were steam cleaned which is a good sign, bit it does seem the head gaskets were replaced before because the branding is AFM Victor Reinz and some cylinders look like they may have been steam cleaned before and then had some carbon build up after a successful HG replacement.

One of the head gaskets seemed to be deteriorating as the outer part was being eaten away. Why does it look like this?







Two cylinders on opposite corners had some rust build up. After a wipe with a WD-40 coated shop towel (photos were taken before this), a good portion of the rust comes off, but there is still rust that is obtruding a little. I think I will be able to get it all off with a better scrubber.






The other cylinders looked like this. One of them has some weird oily residue on the cylinder liner.
The next photo shows coolant in one of the bolt holes.





Here are the undersides of the heads. The only thing that concerns me is that it looks "wet" probably with oil.










The most concerning is that is seems one of the bolt holes is cracked halfway down the hole and allows coolant to get inside. This hole is on the lower middle bolt hole on the Left Hand bank. If thread a bolt in all the way and take it out, the coolant is still there, but at the halfway level. I got all of the coolant out of the hole, however, when I tilted the engine, I saw coolant bubbling in from halfway down the hole. What problems would this cause? Is the block still usable?



Between the problems of rusted cylinders, weird head gasket wear, and possible cracking in a bolt hole, is this block still usable? What would happen if I do use it? The warranty states that I must have an authorized mechanic do all the repairs and show receipts if i want to return it, so I may be stuck with it.

 

There is a long article about cracked bolt holes on these blocks… I’ll find it in a moment.

But I would not use this block

EDIT: http://robisonservice.blogspot.com/2010/04/last-word-on-land-rover-liner-failures.html?m=1

So the blog basically talks about how this failure on these blocks will cause coolant to get behind the liner and create the slipping liner problem.

The bolt holes are just too close to the water jacket

 

What year is your disco OP?

 

This “new” engine that I just got from the junkyard is from a 2002 while my car is 2004.

 

That block is not usable. You should be able to return if you explain it was discovered on disassembly. Suggest you get an early 99 or 00 block from one of the forum breakers or facebook breakers, they are more likely to accept returns on a bad block.

 

Can you point me to where I can get a block? I can’t find the forum and Facebook breakers.

I am a little confused as to why this makes the block unusable. What would happen if I use it?

I took a side freeze plug out on the old FUBAR block and it looks like there is a gap where coolant flows through between the aluminum of the cylinder walls and aluminum making the bolt hole walls. So a crack in the bolt hole should not affect the cylinder walls or liners… I think…

If there were no steam cleaned cylinders does that mean the crack does not affect anything (yet), or was it formed when taking the head bolts out?

 

A cracked block in a bolt hole is asking for trouble, cracks always get worse, never better. You are asking for a lot of heartache if you put more time and money in that block. I pressure test all my blocks before using them to make sure they are not cracked and would never use one that would not pass a pressure test.

Search for Will Tillerey or Doc Heydary on Facebook, or join a Facebook group for Land Rovers or Discovery and there will be people posting trucks parting out.

 

How common are defects in blocks? I am able to buy a bare block that has been removed from a car with a bad head gasket. Is there a high chance that one is cracked too? The seller does not want to pressure test, but said I can get a refund if there are problems.
Are the heads in this engine likely to still be OK?

 

Maybe 7% failure rate. What year block is it. Earlier is better, better if it comes out of a range rover. How far away is it? How much does he want for it?

 

Its on eBay and from a 2000 Disco. The cracked on I have is from a 2002. Would be about $600 including shipping.
Do the pictures of it look alright?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/176444879196