Quick Question Re V8

Just been brought home by the AA--- head gasket gone on my series2 V8 Disco --LPG
Anybody know a ballpark figure for what a garage would charge to fix ?
Can't phone round today (Sunday) but I'm keen to get some idea whether I''ll be fixing it or Ebay for spares !!,
Phil.

All depends where in the country u are as labour rates vary and so do garages. Ball park £50 PH for 12 or 15 hours work in the S/East

Just had a quote from an LPG garage £900 - not quite as bad as I thought but they reckon it may go again as sometimes the cylinder liners have cracked in these situations and are undetectable by sight and you only find out when they have run a few miles after repair.
Thinking I might not bother?

I would reckon it would be worth doing it on a Disco2, even if you have to buy a 2nd hand engine or block/liners - Listerdiesel will be able to advise better than most as he knows the engine in the Disco2 from experience of rebuilding one from a couple of engines.

What were the symptoms?

The tin head gaskets are prone to failure after a fair mileage, and the cracked liner issue is well enough documented, but I'd be inclined to have a look at if first and make a decision based on actual hardware inspection, rather than an AA man's diagnosis, which may well be correct.

Our engine had bad pressurisation problems and the general concensus at the time was that it had cracked or shifted liners or a cracked head. In practice, the block went on to another life and is still running as far as I know, the heads are in use on the current engine.

We fitted a short engine, and used composite gaskets rather than the tin ones. We are on LPG as well, that rebuild has now covered 12K miles with no problems.

Things like thermostats and dodgy water pumps can cause overheating, so don't automatically assume that it is head gaskets, but they are the favourite.

Where are you located?

Peter

Peter , engine stalled a couple of times on LPG so I switched to petrol and it ran as normal,I assumed it was LPG prob. Switched back to LPG after 4 miles and it ran OK.
12 miles later noticed temp. gauge on cold (didn't spot it go to hot) and pulled off motorway after another 6/7 miles.loads of steam and what little water left was boiling,engine very hot.
The system pressurised immediately when filled and engine started, there's no sign of any water in the engine oil which I think is a good sign, what do you think.
Phil, Manchester.

head gasket failure or v8 dropped liner

Certainly you'll have to do a strip-down and see what has gone.

If you can find evidence of a gasket failure then you may well be OK with a head gasket change, but water pump seal failure would also give those symptoms, and a failed thermostat once it has warmed up a bit.

Heads off!

Peter

Water pump replaced 1500 miles ago, any sense in replacing thermostat(can't be too expensive ? ) and testing the result ?
Phil.