Thread: Cracked block - 1995 300Tdi

Hi guys,

This is my first post on here - was hoping it would be about some amazing adventure I took my Defender on but alas, its been nothing but a headache.

So, a short while after buying it in February, it began over-heating and loosing coolant. Checked all hoses and could find no external leak so took it to the garage to have the head gasket checked. Turned out to be a warped head, $3000 later I took it home, drove fine for a few days then began to overheat and loose coolant again. Straight back to the garage where they did a pressure test which showed no loss of pressure - left us all scratching our heads. They just told me to keep an eye on it and let them know if there were any more problems.

Took it home for a blissfull week, free of problems, until it began overheating again with a vengeance. Heaps of coolant leaking out from under the reservior cap, blowing white and black smoke almost constantly (which it had not done at all before this point). Got it back to the garage, within a few days they told me the seal on the head had failed and that the intercooler was choked with sludge. Told me they were ordering a new part and that'd be there in about 2 weeks.

4 weeks later (yesterday) I got a call saying nothing was wrong with the head and that they found a crack in the block which showed signs of being patched up with crack sealant. They haven't been able to find a new block in Tasmania and are now searching on the mainland, but suggest replacing the entire engine as it has been refurbished in the past and put together very poorly. They quoted me $8000 which I just can't afford or justify.

My partner has a friend who used to work on diesel engines in the military and who has built his own cars from scratch who may be able to replace the engine for me providing I source a new engine myself - any recommendations of what I can put in it would be great.

I'm at a loss. Its incredibly temping now just to get rid of it, no idea what sort of price I can sell the car for, the body is in immaculate condition as is the chassis - assuming I can even find a buyer in Tas.

Anyone else been in this situation able to suggest any ideas?

Thanks, Chloe.

As already said contact Justin Cooper. He is extremely knowledgeable with Land Rovers, owns a workshop and is a very nice and helpful guy.