Thread: Cracked head ? Now the dilemma

I feel for ya i am in the same boat.
It comes down to what your wanting to do with are you wanting to go do a lot of harder 4x4 tracks and touring or just light work and touring or just daily driving it.

If doing hardcore work id keep it fix it because well it wont matter if it gets scratched or dints
If just touring and light 4x4 work and you dont mind working on your car get a new low km one and keep your old one as a spares for it.
If dailying and doing dirt tracks etc look at subaru outback etc

If you love it and you know it why not fix it
It is not a throw away type of car , But it all depends how your emotions and pocket feel about it
Me i would not hesitate to fix mine god forbid as it has been the best LR apart from the Extreme i have owned

Originally Posted by rangieman

If you love it and you know it why not fix it
It is not a throw away type of car , But it all depends how your emotions and pocket feel about it
Me i would not hesitate to fix mine god forbid as it has been the best LR apart from the Extreme i have owned

Completely agree! I had the same issue with diesel in the coolant at 375,000 k's and fitted an AMC head, now at 480,000 does not use oil and still runs very well after 4 years.
Nick

Well the plot thickens!
Have been given a rough quote of 6K to fit a new AMC head. I would get them to do a couple of extra bits and pieces while they had it so would be looking at close to 8K.

There are a few low KM D2A on the market which they are asking 15K for, but then there are a few early D3 and even a coupld of L322 on the market for the same price. I do not know if I would be opening up a whole new can of hurt by going for a D3 or Rangie!

If I new that I would not have to spend for any big ticket items on mine over the next 2 to 3 years then fixing it would be better value.

The Disco is a 2nd spare vehicle for us and I do enjoy getting out into the bush - nothing too extreme, but I do want a good touring vehicle that could take me to the top end and back towing a 1500kg van in the next 3 years or so.

6k just for the head sounds pretty steep and just getting the top end fixed on a motor that has done 370k won't give you 100% reliability because the bottom end will be pretty worn as well.
Maybe an exchange low mileage engine out of a wreak would be a better and cheaper option.

Originally Posted by trout1105

6k just for the head sounds pretty steep and just getting the top end fixed on a motor that has done 370k won't give you 100% reliability because the bottom end will be pretty worn as well.
Maybe an exchange low mileage engine out of a wreak would be a better and cheaper option.

6k sounds in the ball park figure when you take into account almost half of that cost is the head it self
Then throw in all the other cost labour , oil , coolant , gaskets , head bolts and sundries
If you are doing it your self yes it would be way cheaper , But some have to or choose to pay for one reason or another .
By the way mechanics dont work for charity and have big over heads and should warranty the job

Originally Posted by trout1105

6k just for the head sounds pretty steep and just getting the top end fixed on a motor that has done 370k won't give you 100% reliability because the bottom end will be pretty worn as well.
Maybe an exchange low mileage engine out of a wreak would be a better and cheaper option.

That is one of the options I am waying up

I've spent many hundreds on the brakes, new slotted rotors and pads, new engine mounts, over $5,000 on the transmission.

Now I have diesel in the sump too!

#1 piston has burnt down the side, bore nackered, needs a sleeve, I think #5 will need one as well. With diluted oil who knows what the crankshaft will be like?

The price for this much will be $3,000 & GST and a lot of work whereas a (hopefully) good low mileage motor will set me back about the same number of dollars, with a lot less for me to do.

It's like sinking money into a bad venture but if I don't then the money I have spent is wasted!

Land Rover didn't turn me into a mechanic but it sure is keeping my (supposed to be) retired hand in.

Where do you stop, when is enough, enough? This should be a good vehicle with bugger all left to go wrong, fingers crossed.

Regards

Mike