300 TDI Soft in the head

**eddy** · 20th July 2009, 08:59 PM

Bought a 1995 auto the other day,290000ks on the clock with the usual items requiring attention.Vac pump leak,P gasket,oil cooler pipes,play in the steering a bit of rust around the safari windows , the roof lining starting to sag and the dash curling up from the windscreen.However most urgent was[apart from replacing cambelt]was the pressurising of the coolant...no bubbles or water in the oil.So I thought ok, just replace the head gasket.
On tackling the job,surprised how tight the manifold bolts were,ahha this has been worked on recently!All beautifully clean in the ports,torque on the head bolts was variable,this head had obviously been recently reconditioned.Sadly also overheated even though radiator was recond,new waterpump...but not the P gasket.Hardness testing revealed soft area between 2&3 cylinders[60, elsewhere 120]so I guess a new head is required.
Looking on the net I see there are modified heads LDF500180 available from Brookwells for $542 inc gasket to suit LVB50020/30.I am assuming these heads are suitable for my 1995.Has anyone any experience good or bad of the modification. Attachment 16992

Attachment 16994

**Tank** · 27th July 2009, 02:04 PM

Bump

**eddy** · 27th July 2009, 06:46 PM

Well,I went and bought the modified head from Turner Engineering ,reputable Landrover motor remanufacturersin the UK.Delivered to the door for $741,so happy with that.Can thoroughly recommend Turners,Frida there is very helpful regarding all LR motors.On her advice I am going to use the normal Elring composite gasket.Looking at the head I see it has additional water ways by the inlet valves on cylinders 1&4,but there are no corresponding holes in the block,so there is not much point in having a gasket with additional holes.Just as there is no point in buying the modified head unless of course you drill some new waterways in the head.....does this sound feasible?
Regarding the curling dash,took Scouse's great advice and bought complete dash from Southern Landrover here in WA for $132,best value ever!:

d@rk51d3 · 27th July 2009, 06:50 PM

I think the extra holes are to suit the HS2.8 (which is an uprated / improved 300TDI) engine which has extra waterways, among other things.

I've been told that most new heads that are now supplied for the 300TDI, are actually for the HS2.8.

**Tank** · 28th July 2009, 07:01 PM

Originally Posted by eddy

Well,I went and bought the modified head from Turner Engineering ,reputable Landrover motor remanufacturersin the UK.Delivered to the door for $741,so happy with that.Can thoroughly recommend Turners,Frida there is very helpful regarding all LR motors.On her advice I am going to use the normal Elring composite gasket.Looking at the head I see it has additional water ways by the inlet valves on cylinders 1&4,but there are no corresponding holes in the block,so there is not much point in having a gasket with additional holes.Just as there is no point in buying the modified head unless of course you drill some new waterways in the head.....does this sound feasible?
Regarding the curling dash,took Scouse's great advice and bought complete dash from Southern Landrover here in WA for $132,best value ever!:

Is that a complete head with valves and springs or a bare head, Regards Frank.

**justinc** · 28th July 2009, 07:51 PM

Originally Posted by eddy

Well,I went and bought the modified head from Turner Engineering ,reputable Landrover motor remanufacturersin the UK.Delivered to the door for $741,so happy with that.Can thoroughly recommend Turners,Frida there is very helpful regarding all LR motors.On her advice I am going to use the normal Elring composite gasket.Looking at the head I see it has additional water ways by the inlet valves on cylinders 1&4,but there are no corresponding holes in the block,so there is not much point in having a gasket with additional holes.Just as there is no point in buying the modified head unless of course you drill some new waterways in the head.....does this sound feasible?
Regarding the curling dash,took Scouse's great advice and bought complete dash from Southern Landrover here in WA for $132,best value ever!:

VERY much agree, I have had 2 reoccurring failures with the steel shim type gaskets, NEVER with a Composite Elring one.

JC

**eddy** · 30th July 2009, 07:55 PM

Tank,That was for a bare head[has core plugs,valve stems and seats fitted]I just swapped valves and seated them in.Freight from UK was 5 days.

**d2dave** · 1st August 2009, 08:18 PM

eddy,
How did you seat the valves?

Dave.

**eddy** · 2nd August 2009, 08:52 PM

Dave,
Using the old method of stick with rubber sucker and grinding paste.

**lux201** · 1st May 2012, 07:47 PM

Hi Eddy,

waking up an old thread I know ...but I guess its more efficient than starting a new. I am about to purchase an LDF500180 head also $525gbp (complete with springs, valves etc). I was wondering how yours is going now after a few years, did you notice much of a performance increase?. all in all are you pretty happpy with it for the money spent? (they seem to have a great reputation)

cheers,
Jarrod.

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