they all blow eventually it's an all aluminum engine...

 

What I'm having a hard time wrapping my head around is, I have owned Toyota's, Nissan's, Infiniti's and more and the head gaskets never blew out and these were Aluminum engines as well. I'm just really trying to understand this all, it's not making sense but I'm trying to make sense of it. We see vehicles by these makes I listed and more reaching high mileage without blowing head gaskets. I have even seen poor quality American made cars last longer. It would not be that big of issue if I didn't see so much written up about this issue. I'm told there is not a design flaw but how not? Because I'm pretty much under the notion that if you buy one, you'll be replacing the head gaskets. Why can't they last longer? Is there a way for them to last longer?

 

I know some will give me hell but I'm going to look at a VW Touareg tomorrow. Guess we will see. I know you guys are laughing. lol

 

D2's are great trucks, noisy, but great. The only problems are as they age, like any vehicle, things cause problems and are magnified by the size and cost of work. Like many vehicles you need to be prepared to do much of your own work and maintenance particularly if the truck has 60K miles or over on the clock be it a V8 or TD5 or alternatively you need a chest full of cash in the trunk and a good tame garage to do the work. I've owned LR's from Series to Range Rovers for over 40 years now and the most useful has been the V8 and TD5 D2's. My present 2003 D2 TD5 (well we are in France and everything is diesel) has 120K miles which I've owned from new and it has been relatively reasonable to run up until now but time and mileage is now taking it's toll. One imperative thing is good routine maintenance and being aware of your vehicle and any changes that may occur and become a problem as many issues are expensive to resolve. All that being said, the D2 is great to own providing it's driven sensibly and not like an F1 car. Good luck and enjoy you're LR D2's they are very different. I'm 68 and can still drive 500-800 miles a day in relative comfort in a D2 without feeling I've been through a 'tumble dryer'.

 

Well I went and looked at the Touareg after work yesterday instead of today after work. And no way will that work for me, lol.

So I sit down when I got home and thought long and hard about this and buying a D2 again. I realized while thinking that there is no other vehicle that I will be satisfied and fulfilled with like the D2. Even a trusty vehicle like a nice 4th Gen 4Runner couldn't and would not take the place of a Land Rover or D2. Again as I have stated already and a lot if not most on here agree, there is just something about Land Rovers and the D2 that I just love and I don't think that will ever change. So I realized I have to go with a D2 and just learn to deal with some issues that come along with owning one and do a lot of the repairs myself. I guess this is what they would call sacrifice. lol.

So my biggest worry over all would be head gaskets. I got online and started to search and dig up as much information about blown head gaskets and repairs. While digging I found a write and pretty close step by step with pictures on replacing head gaskets. I took my time and read/study every picture. So... I gotta be honest with you, I think I can do this job. In the past I have replaced valve cover gaskets and other engine parts. When looking through the detailed steps and nice photos taken I really feel confident in taking on this job. I have all the right tools needs, I have a garage with heat/electric and everything else needed. Just seeing these photos and the write up here it really left me confident in doing this job if ever need be.

The link I read and found helpful:

Engine Refresh (top end) | PaulP38A.com

This link would apply to 4.0 and 4.6 engines.

I think in buying my next D2 I will right away buy the head gasket kit and bolts and store them in the garage in case this issue needs to be fixed and I have them ready to go. I think anyone with a bit good of mechanical knowledge, time and patience could do the job.

 

It's really not the head gaskets: It's the slipped liner.

With such small metal between the cylinder walls and the cooling passages, a cracked block is also a scary thought, especially on the 4.6 hse.

I know where you are coming from. I'm looking for a commuter to replace my Disco II (to save it for off-roading) and I really want a 90's range rover (classic/p38). Everything seems do-able if you have a garage (when my home is built in April, I'll have 1000 ft^2 of shop space), so that isn't an issue. Sourcing a top-hat non-cracked block for $3k and rebuilding a Rover V8? That becomes impossible.

Head gaskets are just time. I haven't found a solution to the expense of a slipped liner. And it appears to be inevitable, due the nature of aluminum..

 

Everything is doable, you just need enough time, tools, patience and some mechanical aptitude. If you are unsure take a read of the RAVE manual and ask questions online as most people will help out. If you are stripping down a complex assembly organise sub assembly parts into poly zip bags in logical order and take lots of photos, always take photos and keep a digital camera to hand. If you think you have enough photos then even take some more. Always research your intended task before you start and print off whatever you can find on the subject. There is nothing more satisfying than turning that ignition key at the end and the engine fires or that ****ling fault has disappeared. We are all completely mad, insane, but it's great fun even today when I'm up to my elbows in grease and dirt sorting out my Mitsubishi Pajero diesel engine and swearing and cursing whilst I do it - but - when it's finished it will be a great achievement and my money remains in my bank and not the 'st(d)ealers'. Good luck with your choice.

 

So I thought the head gaskets were the big problem here?

I heard of the slip liners being an issue as well but didn't know they were just as bad.

So what's the fix for a slipped liner?

You can replace slipped liners right in the engine yourself?

I seen Atlantic British sales the long blocks and short blocks which have a newer better designed slip liners.

Are the 03-04's more common for slipped liners or are the 99-02's more common for slipped liners?

 

I have a 2000 SE7 With a 4.6 that I built with 20k on it (truck has 140K) in NJ

 

So your saying you pulled a 4.6 out of a 03-04 and out it into a 2000. Did you put new liners in the 4.6 or did you just swap the 4.6 into the 2000?