I feared it might come to this. I'll start scouting around for a decent engine. Do you know if it's true that you need to get the ECU programmed when you install a replacement engine? Interesting, so the rocker pushes down on the retainer, the valve doesn't travel downwards but the retainer...

That would be good if they are. I'll look into that, thanks. I've had a better look at the head this afternoon and I think it's probably going to be ok. A couple of new valves and a bit of light filing/sanding to smooth it out and hopefully that will be enough.

Me too 😭. I’ve just got out and had a closer look. The valve did just drop out as soon as I touched it so it wasn’t completely buried in there. Here’s some close ups of the cylinder damage: At this point I think I have 4 options, scrap the car, buy a replacement block, buy a replacement...

:vb-party2: Great news, I've located the missing valve... unfortunately it's lodged in the cylinder and appears to have chewed up the piston and the head 😭 I didn't get a chance to have a proper look at it before the rain set in again so I just grabbed a few quick pics. I'm praying for minimal...

Ouch! You must have been livid. Did they shoulder the blame or did they squirm their way out of it? While I've got the head off (and assuming it isn't a complete write-off) I was thinking I might as well replace the valve seals and hone the valve seats. Is it worth also replacing the valve...

:eek: - I'll find out in the morning, hoping for the best but planning for the worst!

Huh, that's interesting. So it might not have sustained damage from the misplaced rocker. It would be really good to think that I don't have to replace/repair it. :D

I've got the exhaust manifold off, compared to some of the earlier stuff it was relatively easy and I was really happy to learn that I didn't need to remove the cat and turbo - cheers @Nodge68 for that tip. I've got the engine jacked up and taken off the upper engine mount. I was just about to...

Ok, I’ve worked out that the valve retainer should be holding the valve up but that is missing. The camshaft looks like it’s taken some shrapnel damage, possibly what was stopping the engine turning over if the rocker was wedged in there?? I guess I’ll know for sure when I’ve got the head off...

After a weekend of discovering the finer points of engine disassembly (there was much swearing and occasional throwing tools around!) I finally have the EGR cooler out, the camshaft cover off and all the other bits that preceded them removed and bagged up. As soon as the camshaft cover came off...

Are there any brands of gasket (apart from LR of course) that anyone can recommend? Or any in particular to avoid?

If your gasket is a "4 hole" type this looks like a bargain: https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/166164745235 👍

Point taken on the head bolts, thank you. I was going well today and removed the EGR pipe, vacuum pump, injectors, fuel pump, common rail and fuel hoses and cables etc. I was removing the bolts for the camshaft cover but one of them was badly corroded and typically it's one that in a recess so...

👍 So I'm looking at about 5 days :D If the head bolts come out and have no thread damage and no rust is it ok to reuse them? I don't want to cut corners but on the other hand money is a bit tight at the moment. I'm guessing you would recommend a genuine LR gasket?

It turns out that my borescope is rubbish! I took some photos on my phone looking in the lower holes on the intake. Looking from the front of the car these are: Left. ( X 0 0 0 ) Middle-left ( 0 X 0 0 ) Middle-right. ( 0 0 X 0 ) Right ( 0 0 0 X ) I couldn't believe how much gunge...

After doing some reading last night (god, how my Saturday nights have changed!) it looks likely that I'll be pulling the cylinder head off. I did find the borescope though so I'm going to have a poke around with that and see what I can see first. If I can't rotate the crank is there anything I...

👍 Somewhere I have got a cheap USB borescope. I'll dig it out and see if I can get an idea of what's going on in the head before I consider taking it apart. I've been reading the Haynes manual this afternoon and the work involved in removing the head is a bit overwhelming. I'd hate to pull it...

Well, it put up quite a fight but eventually the intake manifold saw things my way and was wrestled out of the engine bay. That's the good news :D , the bad news is that all 4 swirl flaps are present and correct :mad:. I guess I now need to start stripping down the head to check valves etc...

Hi Arctic2, Did you manage to replace the intake manifold without removing the rigid EGR pipe? Following along with the Haynes manual and it says to remove the EGR pipe but I'll be b******d if I can get the lower bolt out on the rear end of it! :mad: :D

Is this the vacuum motor for the swirl flaps?