metal or plastic head dowels

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landmark

Active Member
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168
Location
Hampshire
Hi when replacing cylinder head on td5 engine if the orginal dowels are plastic is a gpod idea to replace with the later metal ones. The reason for the ask. I have read somewhere that if metal dowels to early head it will cause damage.Any comments welcomed.
 
Load of tosh - LR fitted steel dowels replacing plastic when they had early TD5 engines in for blown head gaskets. LR dont even sell the plastic ones any more.

Steel everytime.......

If you are really tight and have access to a lathe you can make your own. Important they are a nice push fit in the head without being too loose or too tight. Length is not so critical other than dont make them so long that the head wont seat. Having said that they are not that expensive to buy.
 
I've seen both types. I've always used solid ones as the first OEM items I bought from LR for my old engine were solid. I believe some of the later ones are hollow like a roll-pin but this is probably just to save money on materials.

I made my own for the next three engines I rebuilt for friends and my brother and they are still going strong after three or four years. All the pins do is locate the head on the block and stop any sideways slippage so either type will do so long as they are steel.
 
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