97 disco 1 SD need help

Disoteka

Active member
Jun 22, 2023
28
5
Whittier
The inside of the heads look fairly clean. That may well be a good sign the engine has good life left in it.

Were you given any history on why it was parked? Maybe, as was suggested, it was over revved. If that is the case you might be lucky enough to get away with replacing push rods. You are going to need push rods no matter what. If you want to take the minimalist approach get some new/used push rods, drop them in, put the rocker shafts back in, check the engine timing by turning it by hand and make sure it doesn’t meet interference. If it doesn’t meet interference and the engine timing seems correct, do a compression test. If it improves at all, see how it runs.

If it meets interference when turning by hand and or the engine timing is off, (or if you don’t want to be a minimalist) pull the heads and timing cover and do full inspection.

My rule of thumb is always take the minimalist approach assuming the best and work from there.

If you want to spend as little as possible during diagnosis, I might have some used push rods I can send your way.

EDIT - I somehow missed you had zero compression on 2 cylinders. Im sure you have the same thought but I suspect you have bent valves. Check the compression with the push rods out. I really doubt it will be better. You don’t even need to put a gauge on it. Just rotate it by hand to see if it has any compression. Ive replaced individual valves on heads and put the heads right back on after correcting what caused them to bend with good success. Make sure the heads are flat off course.
Thank you so much. Big help. I am planning on taking off the heads and getting them redone. Once I check all the lifters too. I will place everything back. I was going to the salvage yard and pick up some rods but if you have some that would be nice.

a friend gifted me this Disco. He maintained it well I have records. It lived it’s last five years out in the socal desert aera.
 

terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,496
381
Thank you so much. Big help. I am planning on taking off the heads and getting them redone. Once I check all the lifters too. I will place everything back. I was going to the salvage yard and pick up some rods but if you have some that would be nice.

a friend gifted me this Disco. He maintained it well I have records. It lived it’s last five years out in the socal desert aera.
I will look cor some next time I am at my shop. I think I have some but I’m not sure they made the move here.
 

Disoteka

Active member
Jun 22, 2023
28
5
Whittier
Previous owner took this rig to a dumb mechanic. Between #3 and #5 cylinder a raised thread repair which caused problems as you can see from the gasket. Then the mechanic stripped one of the bolts and just left it there. Hey I can’t complain it was free. But this engine is coming out.
 

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terryjm1

Well-known member
Jan 23, 2011
1,496
381
Considering everything you know along what other surprises may be lurking I would do the same.