1275 Rebuild Question - Head Bolts

[mxp01]

Gentlemen:

I am nearing the end of the rebuild of my 1275. However, I must admit that it has been many months (like seven) since I first disassembled the engine, so my recollection of exactly where everything goes is a little vague.

I need to put the head bolts back in place on the block, but I don't recall where they go. The engine I have is from a 73 Midget. Can some tell me where the bolts go?

Mike Pennell

 

[dklawson]

Bolts?

There should be 9 studs to hold the head to the block. If the head/block have been drilled to accept the Cooper-S mounting there will be an additional two holes. The location of the studs should be apparent when you place the head gasket on top of the block. The smaller diameter studs go through the rocker pedestals into the block.

 

[texas_bugeye]

I would check those studs carefully. Not sure if this is common or if mine were put in using the <span style="font-weight: bold">Iowa death grip </span>but look at the threads and the diameter of the stud carefully. Mine were stretched at the nut-washer end to the point it was smaller in diameter seen just by causally looking at it in your hand. I’m not saying you need APT high buck stuff but I did replace them with Moss standard grade units and nuts-washers. Just a thought.

 

[DrEntropy]

That Iowa Death Grip has been around a while. Usually shows up after a shop doin' primarily V-8 domestic repairs has had a go.

With the age of these cars it would be well worth the expense to replace the studs/nuts with at least the Moss items. No tellin' how many times the old ones have been torqued (or over-torqued). Just good "engineering practice", IMO.

 

[dklawson]

I don't know the current exchange rate, but if the Pound is still "reasonable", ordering a high-strength head stud kit from Mini Spares (C-AHT279 or C-AHT280) may be a good alternative (pricewise) between Moss and ARP.

 

[Whitephrog]

The exchange rate is the best it's been in several months. Just under 1.60 $/GBP.

 

[spritenut]

9 studs, 4 taller ones go inside the rocker cover, 5 shorter ones go outside the cover.
Do watch the rocker pedestols as at least one has an oil hole which corresponds
with an oil hole on the head. Some later 1275s had pedestols with an oil hole in each one but take a look just to be safe. You can make it from NJ to Washington DC before the rockers fail due to no oil if you put that pedestol in the wrong spot. No I didn't do it but I know a guy who did this on his MGA.