Thread: Td5 Head Dowels - when did steel replace plastic?

Originally Posted by Graeme

The change was done during MY03 model run. If I can find the VIN I'll add it here.

No, I no longer have a copy of the TSB that notes the D2 & Defender VINs but here's a link to it pon another site.
www.landroverclub.com.ar • Ver Tema - Reemplazo de pines plasticos por metalicos en Td5 - boletin

TECHNICAL BULLETIN NO: 0011 ISSUE: 1 PAGE: 1 OF 1
TECHNICAL BULLETIN
MODEL / DERIVATIVE: Bulletin No: 0011
Discovery Series II (LT) CDS. ref: L8821bu
Defender (LD) Issue: 1
Date: 20.11.02
AFFECTED RANGE:
All Td5 derivatives within VIN ranges:
Discovery Series II
(02 Model Year)
2A 736340 to 3A 793895
Defender
(02 Model Year)
2A 622424 to 3A 647705
SUBJECT:
CYLINDER HEAD LOCATING DOWELS
DETAIL:
Td5 engines fitted to vehicles in the above VIN range are fitted with plastic dowels
to locate the cylinder head onto the cylinder block.
Land Rover Engineering has introduced steel locating downs from the following
VIN numbers:
Discovery Series II: 3A 793895
Defender: 3A 647705
INFORMATION:
If a cylinder head is removed from a vehicle in the above VIN range, the plastic
dowels must be replaced with new specification steel dowels, which are now
available from Land Rover Parts.
CAUTION: Td5 derivatives prior to the above VIN range must not, under any
circumstances, be fitted with the new steel dowels. If steel dowels are fitted to
earlier engines, cylinder head cracking may result.
PARTS INFORMATION:
Part number Description Qty / Veh
LVB000240 Gasket - cylinder head - 2 holes (1.20mm) 1
LVB000250 Gasket - cylinder head - 1 hole (1.27mm) 1
LVB000260 Gasket - cylinder head - 3 holes (1.35mm) 1
ERR5384 Bolt - cylinder head 12
YLL500040 Steel dowel 2

A quick translation from Land Rover corporate cover up to English

Hello , we have realised there is a good reason every diesel engine in the world has steel dowels and have therefore decided it might be a good idea , Frankie the coke head has since resigned.
Since we would lose a **** load of money having to replace all previous head dowels, we thought it best to just say that all previous heads would let the smoke out and hope every one will believe us.

Over 15 years since I replaced my first 10 p head dowels with steel and the smoke still stays in.

Here is what I have discovered...

It seems (per below) the change occured from engine number 2A622424 until the end of Td5 prduction...

YLL500040 - Pin - Land Rover Workshop

These are plastic - Td5 to 1A622423 (2001)

LCL100020L DOWEL BLOCK/CYL | shop | www.lrseries.com

https://www.brit-car.co.uk/product.p...y_2___defender

This one is steel... Td5 from 2A622424 (2002 - 2007)

YLL500040 | Sleeve Guide Dowel Td5 - Land Rover Part YLL500040