So I have 178K on my disco II.
I am in the midst of changing the head gaskets and timing chain due to an exhaust leaking head gasket on the RHS. The car never overheated. I just bought it without any mechanical history. The engine ran very smooth for the 2 hours I drove it home.

My Question is This: Since there is no evidence of head warpage (no overheating and no head gasket breach to oil or water jackets) do I really need to get my heads reworked for $300. I would rather spend that money on the timing chain and oil pump kits.

Thoughts?

 

I only paid $100 to have my heads resurfaced, they didn't need a valve job so I didn't see the point in paying for one.

not sure why you took the heads off to fix a header leak, but if they are off and have never been flattened, you should get it done.

 

Sorry, just re-read. Your wording was kindof confusing about the headgasket.

I would resurface them. My engine builder told me rather matter of factly that pretty much any factory aluminum head he has every worked out didn't meet his specifications regardless of milage

 

yes!!!!

 

Here you can see where the head gasket blew out causing gasses to escape during the compression stroke.

 

That could have been done due to improper torquing technique

 

Really wish land rover had redesigned these engines with a small block Chevy head bolt pattern. Confident that would all but entirely eliminate these issues.

 

I did notice that there was red gasket RTV like material on the opposite head but not the offending RHS.

I also noticed blue RTV gasket material on the water pump cover. There has definitely been head work done on this motor before.

 

Spend the $300 and get a valve job.

 

the gasket with the red rtv made into the gasket is the top. If you get the lucky 8 kit it's not labeled but the side with the red rtv is the top. Spend the coin and get the heads worked and decked. And if you can spare it, go with the studs instead of stretch bolts. Don't want do a half *** job and have to go back in quickly and try to fix something that should have been done right the first time