What were they thinking

Healey Nut · May 10, 2019

So why would they make the gasket web so narrow and that close to the firing zone of the cylinder . They could have made the gasket web wider to give more sealing area . Its not like the coolant holes need the space etc .
BT7 engine , in the process of rebuild .
Cylinder head almost ready for reassembly with new guides etc etc .

vette · May 10, 2019

I couldn't agree with you more. I guess they weren't worried about sealing the push rod holes for oil leaks either. My head gasket has weeped oil from along that edge now for quite a while. I haven't replaced the gasket because given where the head bolts are and where the push rod holes are I don't have a lot of faith that the new gasket won't weep there as well.

dougie · May 12, 2019

Healey Nut said:
So why would they make the gasket web so narrow and that close to the firing zone of the cylinder . They could have made the gasket web wider to give more sealing area . Its not like the coolant holes need the space etc .
BT7 engine , in the process of rebuild .
Cylinder head almost ready for reassembly with new guides etc etc .

I have all my head gaskets custom made by https://www.cometic.com/search.html?q=austin+healey My race motors require a special thickness which they can can make in up to about .300. If you've shaved you head a little too much, they can help. You just need to call them direct, the web site's not going to give you the information you want.

Healey Nut · May 12, 2019

dougie said:
I have all my head gaskets custom made by https://www.cometic.com/search.html?q=austin+healey My race motors require a special thickness which they can can make in up to about .300. If you've shaved you head a little too much, they can help. You just need to call them direct, the web site's not going to give you the information you want.

Tks Dougie .
Im not in a bind with what I have it was just something pointed out to me by the machine shop . We were looking at the pitting that forms around the coolant passages and when I compared the gasket /block/head it becomes obvious that the pitting wont matter as there is no gasket there to seal . They could have made the webs wider and made the area of gasket coverage around the smily mouth coolant passages much better .
I havent had a head gasket failure (touchwood) but I would think that really thin web close to firing zone is the weakest link in the gasket.

steveg · May 12, 2019

What were they thinking? I'm assuming they know their business and know things casual observers do not.
Copper head gasket=race motor, correct? I assume those who make copper head gaskets really know their business.

Healey Nut · May 12, 2019

Im not building a race motor , thats just what came in the kit .
The only thing racy about this restoration will be the look .
60s rally recreation with original factory hardtop and roof vent .

dougie · May 12, 2019

steveg said:
What were they thinking? I'm assuming they know their business and know things casual observers do not.
Copper head gasket=race motor, correct? I assume those who make copper head gaskets really know their business.

No copper here, all steel and aluminum built to exact specifications required.

mgtf328 · May 13, 2019

To fund WWII, t

he UK had to borrow from the US. The US ended the deal in 1945 and we had to start paying it back in dollars. This brought the country to it's knee's and rationing didn't officially end until the early '50's. I can still remember my dad having to buy petrol with his rationing book, hard on a Baker's roundsman. As

many of our foreign currency generating assets had been sold at fire-sale prices early in the war to pay for arms shipments exports to make foreign exchange to pay the loans were a priority.

So I guess the answer to the question is "money and shortage of materials".

AJ

The engine was never designed to be a "sports" model because, at the time, they didn't have plans for one.

Editor_Reid · May 13, 2019

mgtf328 said:
To fund WWII, the UK had to borrow from the US. The US ended the deal in 1945 and we had to start paying it back in dollars. This brought the country to its knees and rationing didn't officially end until the early '50's. I can still remember my Dad having to buy petrol with his rationing book, hard on a Baker's roundsman. As many of our foreign currency generating assets had been sold at fire-sale prices early in the war to pay for arms shipments, exports to make foreign exchange to pay the loans were a priority.

Yes, and most people don't realize that Donald Healey's CBE ("Commander of the Order of the British Empire") was awarded not for his contribution to automotive design or for his achievements in motorsports, but for "services to export"; in other words, bringing badly needed cash into the British economy. That alone should tell you a lot about the state of the British economy in the post-WWII years.

Bob_Spidell · May 13, 2019

IIRC, they also dumped dozens (hundreds?) of aircraft provided by FDR from 'Lend Lease' in the ocean, including quite a few F4U Corsairs. Today, a flyable Corsair is worth a million or more.

Michael Oritt · May 13, 2019

To drag us back to the thread's original topic, attached is a photo of the DW steel/composite head gasket I use with the DW aluminum "Fast Street" cylinder head. This is the spare I carry on top of the fuel tank under the floor of the boot. As you can see there is a good bit of material between the holes for the passages and cylinder bore. The original has been in place for about 60K miles without needing to be replaced or retorqued though I have lately had a teeny bit of water seepage above the number plate after shutdown as things cool and contract.

Bob_Spidell · May 13, 2019

If that's the DWR gasket, I think they all but guarantee it won't leak. Norman Nock recommended coating with WellSeal, basically a type of shellac. We used it on our BN2 and a stock gasket and no leaks, but it's only been driven maybe 1,000 miles. I think the quality of the gasket sets has gone down over the years; fortunately, I had an old set from way back and we used it on the BJ8 rebuild (can't think of the name of the company, but they are big in the business; originally made in England but who knows, now?). When I was shopping parts for the BJ8 I saw Moss had a 'premium' gasket for about $300; I'd bet a fin it's a DWR.

Michael Oritt · May 14, 2019

Yes, it is the DW steel/composite gasket which is recommended to use in conjunction with the AL heads.

Thread starter	Title	Forum	Replies	Date
	TR5/TR250 What were they thinking! [A TR250 gone mad]	Triumph	20	Mar 14, 2006
	Before they were Vintage	Racing	0	Jan 3, 2022
	MGB For those who were excited with me.	MG	2	Mar 17, 2021
	troubleshooting signals - if you were a betting person.	Spridgets	21	Jul 9, 2020
	General TR Those were the days	Triumph	4	Apr 6, 2020
	TR6 Why were all these shims in there?	Triumph	12	Feb 16, 2020
	BJ8 Leather interior - what pieces were leather/vinyl	Austin Healey	13	Dec 5, 2019
S	TR2/3/3A were the 2 metal gas lines connect	Triumph	18	Jan 24, 2018
A	TR2/3/3A TR3 Gods were good to me, got pistons out of calipers today	Triumph	1	Dec 30, 2017
	TR4/4A Who said the TR4 round shift knobs were NLA	Triumph	4	Apr 1, 2017
	Those Were the Days	Austin Healey	11	Oct 23, 2016
	General TR If i were to ever own a triumph	Triumph	10	Mar 30, 2016
A	When were turn signals original equipment on Mk1 Bugeye Sprites?	Spridgets	4	Nov 17, 2015
M	TR5/TR250 Where were you on this day in 1967?	Triumph	19	Oct 3, 2015
R	TR4/4A Were the exhaust headers painted on the TR4's	Triumph	6	Jun 29, 2014
	Think they were watching Need for Speed?	Other Cars	0	Apr 1, 2014
	I Donald were still alive	Austin Healey	15	Feb 10, 2014
	TR2/3/3A Were there original body color wheels on an early TR3A?	Triumph	8	Nov 10, 2013
S	Were Valve Covers Ever Painted Blue?	Austin Healey	8	Nov 6, 2013
T	TR2/3/3A Has anyone put sound deadening in a TR3. Were the results worth it?	Triumph	21	Feb 12, 2013
W	If I were shopping for an MG	MG	14	Jan 28, 2013
B	oh curmbs! turn signals and brake lights were...	MG	14	Jul 6, 2012
	MG's were out & about!	MG	0	Apr 25, 2012
	All the busted knuckles were worth it.	Austin Healey	6	Sep 6, 2011
K	Anyone heard of an 83mm "steel headgasket or were	Triumph	6	Apr 27, 2011
S	If working on MG's were reality based TV shows....	MG	9	Jul 22, 2010
	They were everywhere.	Spotted	1	May 23, 2010
	If only it were this easy...[ a bit OT ]	Spridgets	5	Mar 22, 2010
	who knew they were so rare?	Other Cars	8	Feb 2, 2010
G	they were'nt kidding.	Spridgets	8	Oct 6, 2009
	Were there any of you in the Asheville area today?	MG	0	Sep 13, 2009
R	Holly cow there were four!!	TVR	3	Jun 15, 2009
W	Were they painted?	Spridgets	1	Feb 8, 2009
	Were any of you at the show in Hendersonville, NC?	MG	5	Sep 27, 2008
	All the pulled muscles were worth it	MG	6	May 4, 2008
	If I Were a Glutton for Punishment...	Triumph	3	Feb 19, 2008
T	In case you were wondering where the Bugeyes went	Spridgets	6	Jan 13, 2008
	Just When Things Were Settling Down.....	Other Cars	5	Dec 23, 2007
	Did anyone here own a Spridget when they were new?	Spridgets	8	Jun 6, 2007
	Massachusetts TR's..Remember when these were $500?	Triumph	0	Apr 16, 2007
	These were in the mystery box - what are they?	Spridgets	13	Apr 12, 2007
	And you thought Barrett-Jackson prices were high..	Triumph	17	Apr 11, 2007
	There we were	Spridgets	0	Mar 12, 2007
	Ah, those were the days...	Triumph	40	Mar 3, 2007
	Did you think Spridgets were built at Abingdon?	Spridgets	4	Dec 13, 2006
B	What color were the Parts?	Spridgets	7	Dec 1, 2006
N	Were hardtops painted to match car color or 2 tone	Triumph	10	Sep 15, 2006
	Those were the days...	Other British Cars	14	Sep 11, 2006
	Got My HIFs Back from Hap. You were right Doc!	MG	4	Sep 2, 2006
	Progress while we were out.	Spridgets	17	Jul 12, 2006

What were they thinking

Share this page

Healey Nut

Luke Skywalker

Attachments

vette

Darth Vader

dougie

Luke Skywalker

Healey Nut

Luke Skywalker

steveg

Yoda

Healey Nut

Luke Skywalker

dougie

Luke Skywalker

mgtf328

Jedi Hopeful

Editor_Reid

Moderator

Bob_Spidell

Yoda

Michael Oritt

Yoda

Attachments

Bob_Spidell

Yoda

Michael Oritt

Yoda

Similar threads