Thread: Headgasket YAY

well folks, the head gasket bug finally got my beasty. i suppose it has been happening the whole time since i left my emergency repair tiny hose on there for i think 8/9 months rather than a few days which eventually melted off the expansion tank and coolant went off on its own adventure without my car. (i had broken the hose in the first place when trying to get the air box back is as had pulled it out to clean the gunk and mud out of it) so car overheated well guage moved a tiny bit and car shut itself off. but i am guessing damage was done thanks to the wonderful idea of plastic dowels (can someone please explain to me why this happens as the bolts should hold it in place shouldnt they?) but since then i have been chasing coolant leaks which i assumed were just because its done 330000 kms now and hoses etc get old. the system had been slowly over pressurizing. then finally a hose split, car got extremely hot as it happened so fast the car didnt even know it was hot it just died before guage even moved! and since then coolant pushed out expansion tank, and im all like noooooo. being disabled, my car is the only one i can drive, it gives me an independence that when its disco down, that little bit of independence is gone had some wishful thinking of it just being radiator, thermostat or water pump or just the tank cap. but alas, got the car checked and yep head gasket confirmed.

so now open heart surgery has begun. poor car is looking bit sorry for itself and i am mourning my downed comrade. the head should be ready to pick up today after being checked and checked again and having valves reseated etc. one plastic dowel was in 2 pieces, the other had some fancy sideways jig going on. pics included in this thread can tell which cylinder was getting a bit of moisture thanks to a bit of surface rust!

so now my question is landrovians, those whom have done this as well, what do you recommend checking/replacing whilst the head is off. as when my car is back together i do not want it to be in the sick bay again for a very long time! i also do not know how to tell which sized head gasket it is, one hole, two hole or three hole. i have been googling through this forum but there is a lot of different stuff, and then a lot of defender stuff, so i am not sure on what is same and different between the td5s in defenders and discos. plus in starting another thread on the topic, its another source of valuable information for the next person bitten by the head gasket bug.

plastic dowels will not be returning to my vehicle, the metal one will be going in!
i also know the head bolts will need to be replaced.
i am hoping to god timing is ok! its locked in the top dead centre place so fingers and toes crossed all is good there!
checking welshplugs might be a good idea too, had one replaced/fixed 7 weeks ago ish. well it was that weird looking welsh plug

so here are some piccies, and thankyou in advance folks

oh i do have a rave disc but its gone to that magical place that is supposed to be a safe place, then vanishes without a trace.

i will get a photo of the head gasket later, theres no gasket on there in any of those piccies.
the inlet manifold should be ok as car came with egr blanking valve but will check it whilst it is off.
have a dial guage somewhere if i can find it!