Head Gasket Failure - what to replace?

[Dom]

Ok so I've been struck by the dreaded head gasket failure. Not too surprised, we all know it's likely. It went between the oil and coolant channels not the piston. Quite lucky I caught it really quick (no overheating, just noticed a small pool of sludge when I parked up where it had come out of the expansion cap). This was literally just after I got home before leaving for Gaydon so it could have been much worse!

Timing isn't too bad as I was going to replace the cambelt in next months service anyway. It was booked in for an MOT on Tuesday, may as well cancel that!

I'm thinking of using the Land Rover gasket with the uprated ladder. Going to do it properly with new bolts, dowels and the like.

My list of things to do at the same time:


Gasket (obviously)
Dowels (metal)
New stretch bolts
New coolant hoses (they're going to be full of gunk!)
New expansion bottle (same reason)
Cam belt
Drive belts
Tensioners
Oil change (again obvious, seeing as most of it is in the coolant system)


Have I missed anything? Has anyone had anything else done whilst the head gasket is being replaced?

Think I'm going to trawl ebay for performance heads... lol

[Nightfire]

If your head is still OK, just get the ports worked a little whilst it is off.

Try DVA Power.

[petejric]

Hi,

Just had head gasket done on my BRM, owned since 1999, done 100K miles.

Other item replaced was water pump. They are about £80.

Used 'Brookspeed' Southampton, Good job- Race engine mechanics. They are on WWW.

Pete

[JERN]

Uprated thermostat, a must with a first time failure, or the gasket will go again in 30-40k miles.

(so ive been told by a machanic friend anyway!)