2000 disco overheated! Plug popped out?

[Rineheitzgabot]

It may be possible to get it un-seized, but I would bet that it is smoked from the overheat.

What was your coolant level before the incident on the Highway? Do you know? You may not know, however, the pressures can get extremely high in a coolant system, in an overheat. If it was low, the pressure may have gone sky-high. This may be why the freeze plug blew.

Recently, there has been an increased demand for these engines (imagine that!) I believe it will be difficult to procure a replacement, and of course this will drive the price up as well. I think these DII engines are a big problem for the Land Rover name.

oneohsix, Where are you located in the US?

[spacemutt]

Surely you could get a 4.6 short engine from over here and re-fit all the ancilary items. I'm not sure what engine is fitted over there. Is it the same as the P38 4.6 Thor engine?

[oneohsix]

It may be possible to get it un-seized, but I would bet that it is smoked from the overheat.

What was your coolant level before the incident on the Highway? Do you know? You may not know, however, the pressures can get extremely high in a coolant system, in an overheat. If it was low, the pressure may have gone sky-high. This may be why the freeze plug blew.

Recently, there has been an increased demand for these engines (imagine that!) I believe it will be difficult to procure a replacement, and of course this will drive the price up as well. I think these DII engines are a big problem for the Land Rover name.

oneohsix, Where are you located in the US?

I had checked the coolant leval a few days before and all was well. Yes I am sure it will not be easy to find a 'good' replacement engine. I am checking Ebay but my biggest fear is that I will end up with an engine with similar problems. Can you recommend a way to check the engine out of the vehicle? O mean I am ready to fit the engine with a new set of head gaskets and head bolts but how can I check the lower end for compression, scoring etc. while it is out of the vehicle. I woul hate to buy an engine off of Ebay, get it shipped and have to disassemble it just to verify that it is a good engine that is worthy of head gaskets and cylinder head work.

[spacemutt]

In short, you can't. You could do a compression test by spinning it over on the starter, but without disecting it there isn't much more to do.

Did you try taking the plugs out of yours? It might be cheaper to get yours re-built. New liners, pistons, etc.

[Rineheitzgabot]

Where are you at?

[oneohsix]

Where are you at?

Hello again! I am located in Richmond, VA.

[Rineheitzgabot]

Oneho-

The reason I ask where you are from, is I highly recommend a guy around my neck of the woods by the name of PTSchram. I don't know what your plans are, but he would do a fine job with your repairs, if you are planning to repair it.

Good luck.

-Gary

[Mjollnir]

Well, I spoke to my sources and it looks like what you described as being missing from the hole on the rear of the block was not a freeze plug (although there are 12 of them as it was explained to me: 2 rear, 2 front, 4 each side). There is one in the position you mentioned, but it is enclosed & covered under a metal shield. The only conclusion we could determine was perhaps it was an actual engine block bolt that failed, which is in that approximate position and is exposed to the elements.
As far as purchasing an engine on E-Bay, I would not. If you cannot see the condition, if you cannot confirm its mileage, that is bad enough. But remember, the vehicle may have been totaled and the engine might be all that was left. With no way to inspect it, I just would avoid it.
I agree with Spacemutt. Rebuilding it is the best option, especially since you know where the parts are coming from. That way, you have an upgraded engine with the history known.
Think of it this way, what I just stated is all you would have to do. If you bought a new engine on E-Bay, first you have to tear it down and then verify the condition of the parts. Then you have to rebuild it anyway. Skip the extra step and save the money, and go with peace of mind.