Dave's la(te)st buggy build...

Head gaskets do not usually just die. The cause in many cases is overheating. This can be locally because a cooling channel is clogged or general because the cooling system does not work properly. I had one damaged head gasket because the visco clutch was defective and the temperature gauge showed too little and the engine just overheated.

Taking off the head also has the advantage that you might see a clogging if there is one and could redo the valve seating etc. Also I personally do not really trust the magic liquids that repair in this case your head gasket. I once used one and then the water pump died and then the internal radiator and .. . I ended up with having to acid pickle the water side of the engine, a new head gasket, a new radiator and cooling water pump.

Be careful of magic beans, if something sounds too good to be true then it probably is.

Yup, the head / gasket has indeed gone, so I gave my mate John the mechanic the nod to proceed... head stripped and indeed 1 and 4 are leaking, so the head is off to be skimmed and pressure tested...

The timing belt note says it was fitted 200 miles ago, which agrees with what I understood when I bought the donor Jimny a few years ago... So either the head wasn't tested, or there was an error when it was replaced / re-assembled (John noted the head bolts varied in tightness?)

Either way, it needs doing, John says it will be done in a fortnight, he'll squeeze it into his agenda around other customers vehicles already booked in, which will be before our next group outing in the Peak District on the 27th of June. There's not enough time though - with the bank holiday, etc - to get it done for the 13th of June though, when I was due to go down to Hawkstone Park Follies for the annual punch-hunt, which is a shame, so I've let the organiser know I can't make it, as numbers are restricted to 30 due to current COVID rules, (so I was going on my own as I couldn't take my passenger / winch bitch Alan either), but that should be plenty of notice for someone to take my place... Which means there probably won't be a Jimny winning this year :lol:

John's also sorting out a leaking water pump (that won't of helped the head!), and a leak in the power steering too...

But the Boogie will return soon-ish!
 

Quick Update - Called in the garage to see John yesterday...

 

He was working on the Boogie when I popped in... The head is skimmed, pressure tested, reassembled, new head gasket set on, new water pump, idle control valve out and cleaned, and everything is being re-assembled ready for a couple of shakedown trips before rejoining the group for their next trip on the 27th around the Peak District and surrounding areas...

Well done!

Great news!