300tdi head GO or NO-GO

Try carb or brake cleaner and a fine brass brush.

Use a scotch brite pad, some degreaser or carb cleaner, only rub hard enough to remove carbon build up. It doesn't need a buff and shine, when it's clean and smooth sit your straight edge lengthwise, crosswise and diagonally and see if you can see light under the straight edge. Look especially under and between #'s 2&3 sets of valves (combustion chamber is in top of piston.
If you can't do this take it to a local head reco'er and have it checked, regardless of what some say here if the head is flat and no cracks it can be reused. I would suggest you use a "Victor Rienze" (brand name) MLS laminated metal head gasket.
Unless you want to spend over a $1K+ for an AMC head from Turners in the UK, also check the block surface is flat as well, same way, use new bolts, if your valve lash caps are in good nick, number them and reuse them, LR replacement ones are made of cheese, good luck, Regards Frank.

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Originally Posted by Tank

........... if your valve lash caps are in good nick, number them and reuse them, .............

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yes, reuse the originals if they're OK, Frank is certainly right on this point

I wouldn't reuse them,new ones are $1.50 each,you only need 8. Pat

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Originally Posted by PAT303

I wouldn't reuse them,new ones are $1.50 each,you only need 8. Pat

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Replacement quality is crap so i had no hesitation re using my old ones which were still fine.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AULRO mobile app

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Originally Posted by 87County

the simple answer then, seeing that it's done those kms -

and the easiest option, is to just ring Turners and get a new head complete with valves fitted and all the ancillaries (bolts & gaskets etc)

Land Rover cylinder heads 300TDI, TD5, LDF500160, LDF500170, 200TDI, V8, 2.0TCie Freelander diesel, turbo diesel, M51 BMW RR, 2.5 petrol, 2.25 petrol etc.

- takes less than a week to arrive, but the dropping $AUD may give you an unpleasant surprise

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I think I got stung $150 plus recently in customs and GST charges for a performance 300Tdi head from Turners.

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Originally Posted by PAT303

I wouldn't reuse them,new ones are $1.50 each,you only need 8. Pat

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Originally Posted by loanrangie

Replacement quality is crap so i had no hesitation re using my old ones which were still fine.

Sent from my GT-I9300 using AULRO mobile app

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Yep, current Land Rover quality is crap.

I think Frank used Crane Cams ones, I've bought Manley ones (hardened 4140), Scat or any 8mm hipo VW ones would be good too, anything but genuine in this case.

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Originally Posted by rick130

I think I got stung $150 plus recently in customs and GST charges for a performance 300Tdi head from Turners.

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unfortunately the drop in the $AUD put it well over the magic hurdle :o

(as per my earlier comment)

It will be long time before the advantageous exchange rates of 2011 to early 2013 return

Thanks guys, as much as i'd like to grab a new head moneys a bit tight after xmas, think I'll make do for a while. From what I've cleaned up so far it looks ok. Valve caps were all good, but I did forget to number them

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Originally Posted by firsttracks

..............Valve caps were all good, but I did forget to number them

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I don't think that will matter once you set the clearances, run it and reset them.