What on earth does this mean?? (Picture)
Baja
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 5,845
Likes: 368
From: Near Bordeaux, France
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 52
From: Tampa, FL
Captain, seriously, you have spent a lot of time on this, and your talking about replacing the motor or full rebuilds and your trying to buy one year. Do what Dr. Mordo and I suggest, change your oil, go buy $15 bottle of K-Seal or Barrs tablets, Buy a bottle of Barrs Main Seal Repair, throw it in and watch your levels. If they don't move, your good. If they do move, do the heads.
Now let's talk about a head job. Most guys on this forum say it is a DYI project and it is. However, I understand the hassle of doing the job and the fear that it evokes and the sense of "Do I really want to take this on". So with that said I understand that if most untrained people can do it, then any good mechanic should be able to do it not just a Rover wrench. So here are the facts, the book on a HG job is 12 hours, based on a rate of $100.00 an hour that is $1200 in labor. Parts for the job are $250 bucks, which includes all the gaskets, bolts and fuel injector seals. Throw in $300 for coils, plugs and wires, which they remove anyway to do the heads and another $250.00 to rebuild the heads, (which the rover wrenches I've talked to say don't usually need to be done) and your at $2100 max and $1600 min. How the hell does a guy say $2900 for that job.
Whenever you talk about a big job with a service manager first ask him what the book hours is, then ask him his rate for the book. Most shops charge $85.00 to $100.00 an hour. Then ask what parts are need and how much are those parts. Finally ask him if you can provide the parts (much cheaper). Now some times shops will say, I charge $100.00 an hour, if you buy the parts I charge $125. Do you think if things are slow that price is negotiable, hell yes.
HG are a pain to do, but their is no special tool needed to do it, most good shops, not just LR shops can do it, heck most decent DYI guys can do it. In Chicago I know I can get it done for $1200 from a good shop plus parts.
So, here would be my plan.
Throw in the K-Seal and Barrs - if it works you save $2870 Dollars, (I get $700 and Mordo gets $700 you keep $1470 for yourself) if it doesn't your out $30.00
If you want someone else to do it go to a reputable shop in town, tell them you have a Discovery 2 that needs Head Gaskets and you will provide the parts, what is your estimate and how many hours is the book. (Remember it is 12) If they say 12 and they go by the book you know. (Remember what ever you save from $2900 I get half)
Now let's talk about a head job. Most guys on this forum say it is a DYI project and it is. However, I understand the hassle of doing the job and the fear that it evokes and the sense of "Do I really want to take this on". So with that said I understand that if most untrained people can do it, then any good mechanic should be able to do it not just a Rover wrench. So here are the facts, the book on a HG job is 12 hours, based on a rate of $100.00 an hour that is $1200 in labor. Parts for the job are $250 bucks, which includes all the gaskets, bolts and fuel injector seals. Throw in $300 for coils, plugs and wires, which they remove anyway to do the heads and another $250.00 to rebuild the heads, (which the rover wrenches I've talked to say don't usually need to be done) and your at $2100 max and $1600 min. How the hell does a guy say $2900 for that job.
Whenever you talk about a big job with a service manager first ask him what the book hours is, then ask him his rate for the book. Most shops charge $85.00 to $100.00 an hour. Then ask what parts are need and how much are those parts. Finally ask him if you can provide the parts (much cheaper). Now some times shops will say, I charge $100.00 an hour, if you buy the parts I charge $125. Do you think if things are slow that price is negotiable, hell yes.
HG are a pain to do, but their is no special tool needed to do it, most good shops, not just LR shops can do it, heck most decent DYI guys can do it. In Chicago I know I can get it done for $1200 from a good shop plus parts.
So, here would be my plan.
Throw in the K-Seal and Barrs - if it works you save $2870 Dollars, (I get $700 and Mordo gets $700 you keep $1470 for yourself) if it doesn't your out $30.00
If you want someone else to do it go to a reputable shop in town, tell them you have a Discovery 2 that needs Head Gaskets and you will provide the parts, what is your estimate and how many hours is the book. (Remember it is 12) If they say 12 and they go by the book you know. (Remember what ever you save from $2900 I get half)
But seriously, lots of good advice, and the one clarification I would make is I wouldn't use the Barr's Tablets and KSeal at the same time. When Doyle says "Throw in the K-Seal and Barrs" he means the KSeal coolant leak treatment and the Barrs Main Seal Repair treatment.
I must say that I agree these vehicles are really better suited to a mechanic. If you aren't gong to work on it, repair costs will eat you alive. Selling may be your best option. Buy a Pathfinder or Armada. They aren't nearly as sexy as a Disco, but they are built like tanks, and run great.
Good luck! Let us know what you decide to do.
Thread Starter
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Three Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
I must say that I agree these vehicles are really better suited to a mechanic. If you aren't gong to work on it, repair costs will eat you alive. Selling may be your best option. Buy a Pathfinder or Armada. They aren't nearly as sexy as a Disco, but they are built like tanks, and run great.
Good luck! Let us know what you decide to do.
Good luck! Let us know what you decide to do.
Anybody know of a good thread on where to start in terms of an HG job, or know where I can find a good, affordable kit?
And anyone who's done the job interested in being on call in case we get stumped? (My dad's built some old 4-bangers from scratch, so it's not like we have no experience between the two of us, but this is probably a bit more complicated than either of us have attempted before.) We're shooting for a two-day job in terms of work. It'll probably take a couple of days to get the heads reman'd. How essential is that? Is there any way to tell if I actually need it or not?
Sorry, I'll probably need to start a new thread for this. But you guys have been frequenting this thread (you have all of my thanks!) and I have thoroughly benefitted from your advice.
EDIT: Also, what else do I want to do while the engine is apart? I need to order parts soon if they're going to get here in time.
Last edited by CaptainCulp; Dec 12, 2013 at 10:02 PM.
Recovery Vehicle
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 1,169
Likes: 52
From: Tampa, FL
I haven't done HG, so I'll let others offer advice there. The one thing I'll say is be sure you clean out the bolt holes in the block very thoroughly. I've read horror stories about people stripping the threads because of moisture left in the bolt hole.
You can go crazy replacing stuff while you're in there. I'd say the minimum is timing chain and oil pump, and I'd probly replace the water pump as well while I have it apart. Be sure to seal the timing cover gasket and valve cover gaskets with RTV to prevent leaks.
You can go crazy replacing stuff while you're in there. I'd say the minimum is timing chain and oil pump, and I'd probly replace the water pump as well while I have it apart. Be sure to seal the timing cover gasket and valve cover gaskets with RTV to prevent leaks.
Mudding
Joined: Oct 2013
Posts: 199
Likes: 6
go buy a notebook and print out the rave pages and put them in order in the notebook, buy abox of plastic bags all bolts go in bags and mark what they are. take photos of confusing parts, to refer back to.
keep lifter rods in proper order.
what to replace, gaskets, wires, plugs, fuel ejector seals.
keep lifter rods in proper order.
what to replace, gaskets, wires, plugs, fuel ejector seals.
Baja
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 9,298
Likes: 318
From: Boston Strong
there are several posts on replacing head gaskets not a terrible job just time consuming. if you never done it before plan on a day taking apart, wait for machine work, and a day to put it back together and get it running.
You must have your heads decked or the new gaskets will fail in a short period of time.
read some of the head gasket posts if you have any other question come back.
You must have your heads decked or the new gaskets will fail in a short period of time.
read some of the head gasket posts if you have any other question come back.
Thread Starter
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Three Wheeling
Joined: Aug 2013
Posts: 91
Likes: 0
I haven't done HG, so I'll let others offer advice there. The one thing I'll say is be sure you clean out the bolt holes in the block very thoroughly. I've read horror stories about people stripping the threads because of moisture left in the bolt hole.
You can go crazy replacing stuff while you're in there. I'd say the minimum is timing chain and oil pump, and I'd probly replace the water pump as well while I have it apart. Be sure to seal the timing cover gasket and valve cover gaskets with RTV to prevent leaks.
You can go crazy replacing stuff while you're in there. I'd say the minimum is timing chain and oil pump, and I'd probly replace the water pump as well while I have it apart. Be sure to seal the timing cover gasket and valve cover gaskets with RTV to prevent leaks.
Head Bolt Kit, $79.99,
Timing Chain Kit, $119.95,
Head Gasket Set BOSCH $159.99,
Oil Pump Gear Kit w/ Gaskets $109.95
Anything I'm missing, don't need to buy, or spending too much on in anyone's opinion?
