The AMC head is from Turner Engineering and costs £1315 with valves and springs. On top of that are the new head bolts, head gasket, other manifold and cam cover gasket set, a few new studs/bolts, an engine oil change and new filters x 2, new OAT coolant for the rad plus fitting by the Landrover garage plus VAT. So the head replacement cost was over £2,000 plus VAT. My old head was damaged due to previous owners using tap water not OAT fluid in the radiator. The water caused rust and rot in the head and there were holes on the main head face that allowed the cylinders to force pressure into the waterways in the head and also to rot the head gasket, Thats why LR tell you not to use other than OAT fluid for the coolant....its red/orange in colour and you cant use ordinary antifreeze either as it reacts with the alloy head etc.
Not nice paying out around £2,400 because an idiot skimped on his servicing or running costs.
So £4.4k for chassis, £2.4k for the head plus a transfer box rebuild, adding a new £600 LOF powerspec clutch and flywheel i supplied, taking out engine and g/box to replace main crank oil seal and sump gasket, new radius arm bushes fitted, fitting new hoses i supplied for radiator and intercooler, adding new A frame bracket and ball joint, new bump stops, new suspension galvanised turrets and seats, new brake pipes as well. Thats why it all came to £8,123 incl vat.
I previously in Feb 22 had three new doors costing £2,500, all new door seals and HRW glass and three door locks and striker plates plus spraying done. Before that i have had everything under it renewed, all wheel bearings, all shockers, steering damper, springs, brake calipers/pads/ discs and all flexi pipes and some copper ones, all ball joints, three track rod ends, new power steering pump and pipes, new turbo wastegate actuator, new belt and all pulleys, all new seats x 3, new wiper motor/relay/control stalk, all new lights, bonnet release cable , two new exhaust sections and full Dodomat soundproofing added. All done to pass the mot which it did with no advisories. But they did say the chassis was showing signs of needing to also be renewed soon, so i did it.......
Not a cheap hobby owning a Defender is it? I estimate around £22k so far including buying it as a project for £8k.
