• The Roadster Factory Recovery Fund - Friends, as you may have heard, The Roadster Factory, a respected British Car Parts business in PA, suffered a total loss in a fire on Christmas Day. Read about it, discuss or ask questions >> HERE. The Triumph Register of America is sponsoring a fund raiser to help TRF get back on their feet. If you can help, vist >> their GoFundMe page.
  • Hey there Guest!
    If you enjoy BCF and find our forum a useful resource, if you appreciate not having ads pop up all over the place and you want to ensure we can stay online - Please consider supporting with an "optional" low-cost annual subscription.
    **Upgrade Now**
    (PS: Subscribers don't see this UGLY banner)
Tips
Tips

TR4/4A Head leaking water

jimstr4

Senior Member
Offline
My head is leaking out of the plug shown in the photo and into the oil via the pushrods.
I've never replaced a plug myself, left it up to my friend the engine reconditioner, however I can't be bothered removing the head, so will tackle the job in my garage.
Do I just beat it out with a hammer and screwdriver?
Thanks for any advice.

Jim 1962 TR4
 

Attachments

  • Head leak.jpg
    Head leak.jpg
    75.6 KB · Views: 138
Country flag
Online
Plug just comes out with some brut persuasion using whatever tool it takes. Hammer and screwdriver will work. Just don't scar the head wall where the plug fits. Punch hole inthe middle in of plug and pry it out.
Marv
 

JerryVV

Jedi Warrior
Country flag
Offline
You could try cleaning the area well and some epoxy. But you must get the area free of any oil for the epoxy to stick.
 

Darrell_Walker

Jedi Knight
Silver
Country flag
Offline
I'm not 100% sure, but isn't that one of the plugs that threads in, rather than presses in?
 
Country flag
Online
I replaced one years ago but don't remember any threads but I have slept since them. A temp fix is JB weld. I did a freeze plug on a Healey engine a couple years ago and its still going.
Marv
 

TRMark

Jedi Knight
Bronze
Country flag
Offline
Not a difficult repair. Worst part is getting out the aluminum plug. I can't find my pictures, but I drilled two holes in it and made a tool out of small square tube with little tines welded in place to fit the holes then welded a nut on the opposite side, used an impact. The hole is threaded BSP which is very very close to NPT. I re tapped the hole with a 1/2-14 NPT tap and plugged it with an iron pipe plug. Remembered to check an old thread the tap is 3/4"

https://www.britishcarforum.com/bcf...ze-on-the-top-of-the-head&highlight=plug+head
 
Last edited:
OP
J

jimstr4

Senior Member
Offline
It's been repaired with a cast iron plug.
It was quite difficult to do, requiring the removal of the head and the old plug drilled out and new threads cut in as the old one were badly corroded.
Thankyou for all your advice.

Jim
 

Attachments

  • 20180121_180131.jpg
    20180121_180131.jpg
    63.7 KB · Views: 109

sp53

Yoda
Country flag
Offline
I liked your idea Mark about welding a nut or bolt and then using the impact gun. It sounds clean enough where I would try it with the head on and not worry too much about crap getting into the engine. Did you leave the head in place Mark?
steve
 

TRMark

Jedi Knight
Bronze
Country flag
Offline
I did it with the head on. The threads are so similar, there isn't much material to remove. The engine is a bit old, so I wasn't all that concerned about a little bit of added crud. The trick was a bit of luck and the little gizmo I made to get out the plug.
 

TuffTR250

Jedi Warrior
Country flag
Offline
Jim, I had the same problem on my TR3. I also had to remove the head and get the threads for the plug re-tapped, since they were badly rusted. I used a brass plug. I tied various "fixes" before I removed the head, including, but not limited to, recommended sealants from Permatex Tech support, but none of them worked.
Bob
 

Sarastro

Obi Wan
Silver
Country flag
Offline
Nice job.

My head is at the shop being restored, and of course it will be hot-tanked. I expect the alkali in the tank to eat away most or all of that aluminum plug. So, I have this job in my future too, and it's very helpful to see how others have done it.
 
OP
J

jimstr4

Senior Member
Offline
Thanks for all the support.
I'll definitely try the rocker cover on before I bolt the head on. If it fouls the cover then my angle grinder will be grind the plug back.
I'm waiting for the new head gasket to arrive then I can start the car and try to figure out if my alternator conversion works as the warning light doesn't come on and the ammeter needle doesn't move.
I just need my panelbeater to call me to fix my panels.
Actually I'll start a new thread as a warning to others, the new heritage sills or rocker panels aren't round enough at the ends.
 
Similar threads
Thread starter Title Forum Replies Date
RJS TR4/4A Head Leaking Coolant after Coolant Flush Triumph 15
Rob Glasgow Leaking tapered plug on head Austin Healey 8
M TR2/3/3A Head gasket leaking in two places Triumph 13
Tullamore T-Series TD Head Leaking MG 1
B TR6 Milling the head Triumph 1
sim 948 aluminum head gasket Spridgets 2
K TR2/3/3A Retorquing the Cylinder Head after the initial torquing.? Triumph 12
S TR2/3/3A Rebuilding a cylinder head Triumph 10
petnatcar Cylinder Head Nuts - Tightening Sequence Austin Healey 2
tahoe healey "Convertible" vs "Drop Head Coupe" Austin Healey 8
K TR2/3/3A head gasket repair wire Randall Triumph 1
K TR2/3/3A Checking a cylinder head with a straight edge to see if it's warped? Triumph 22
K TR2/3/3A Cylinder Head Bolt question.... Triumph 3
Celtic 77 MGB Mystery cylinder head attachment. MG 4
tinman58 TR2/3/3A Head Gasket Triumph 15
K TR2/3/3A Cylinder head removal and valve adjustment Triumph 2
K TR2/3/3A Update on the blown head gasket Triumph 33
K TR2/3/3A Bad news...blown head gasket??? Triumph 15
F TR2/3/3A head light buckets Triumph 3
D TR2/3/3A cylinder head oil plug bolt size Triumph 6
R Big Healey 100 Head Austin Healey 4
nichola TR6 Hot spot on cylinder head - 1973 TR6 Triumph 2
R For Sale 100 engine block w/head Austin Healey Classifieds 3
B Surprise screw head Restoration & Tools 0
D TR6 Gp 2 cam, head shaved ,shorter pushrods, with a rough idle Triumph 10
K TR2/3/3A Who sells steering wheel control head "Allen head'' grub screws? Triumph 5
B Head Re-Torque Austin Healey 8
AUSMHLY Reduced-Shank Cylinder Head Studs Austin Healey 0
AUSMHLY Cylinder Head Studs Austin Healey 3
AUSMHLY Cylinder Head Input/Exhaust Circlip/Split pin Austin Healey 3
AUSMHLY Engine Flush After Head Gasket Leak Austin Healey 19
KVH General Tech Rusted Cylinder Head Freeze Plug--WOW Triumph 16
KVH General Tech Head Gasket Sealant Triumph 4
AUSMHLY BJ8 Cylinder Head Installation Austin Healey 6
KVH General Tech ARP Head Studs/Liner Protrusion Triumph 10
healeynut For Sale 100/4 block and head Austin Healey Classifieds 1
K TR2/3/3A Inside the horn and turn signal control head. Triumph 3
T TR2/3/3A Water pumps/head cooling Triumph 22
T TR2/3/3A cylinder head ,valves and springs Triumph 0
KLUTZ Wedge Adding Blue Devil head gasket sealer Triumph 4
K TR2/3/3A Oil leaks at two front cylinder head studs? Triumph 3
T TR2/3/3A tr3 head gasket Triumph 38
AUSMHLY BJ8 Cylinder Head Re-Torque Austin Healey 26
K TR2/3/3A Question about installing the steering wheel control head? Triumph 1
DrEntropy MGB Head gasket R&R goes on... MG 13
LAW75 Hilton Head Island Concours Austin Healey 0
DrEntropy MGB And now, NO ARP head studs to be found! MG 13
Joel Lester TR2/3/3A What type of valve to use when rebuilding the head? Triumph 10
S MGB Mgb with nissan cylinder head. I am a new member, introduction and help MG 1
Joel Lester TR2/3/3A Advice for which head gasket material is best Triumph 8

Similar threads

Top