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head gasket again

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tahoe healey

tahoe healey

Yoda
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Since I will not be able to repaint my car this year, I will be trying to stop leaks in the head gasket. Is the Moss gasket any good? I've heard some neg and pos on them. Is a sealer appropriate? If so, which one and one side or both? Ive heard paint , varnish, and nothing.
I've seen some Healeys which have absolutly no seeping form the head gasket (yea, you Gonzo. You too, Roger).
Thanks
TH
 
We have been running a '56 100M in vintage racing for over 15 years and have tried a lot of various gaskets and ways to stop or slow the head gasket from leaking. The best way is to buy a Dennis Welsh head gasket, not cheap but the best quality and you can use it again and again (it doesnt need to be re-torqued either). Make sure your block and head are dead flat (have a machine shop mill each to be flat). Then add Moroso ceraminc seal to the coolant (follow the directions). No more leaks. Do not put any sealer on the gasket either. The 4 cyc. cars tend to leak right over the engine # plate, with the Moroso sealer, it will stop the leak in few minutes or so. This is by far the best way we have found to stop the leaks. You can find the sealer at any good speed shop or look on the internet. We have never used it on any 6 cyc. cars, but would gather it would work on that also. It does not clog up the radiator, and does not cause the engine to run hot. Try it, you will like it!
 
I second the "The best way is to buy a Dennis Welsh head gasket" I installed one of these have had the head off twice and this gasket works great.... I would suggest that this is a good place to spend a few bucks!

Michael
55 BN1
 
I used the Moss/VB etc. garden variety head gasket on my 100 with permatex copper gasket sealer, tok the head off when I first got the car and later when I rebuilt the motor, no problems with leaks.

I would not doubt the Dennis Welch head is a good solution--but it is much more, depends on your budget as well.
 
wangdango
Looks like the Moroso shouldn't be used with coolant (according to advertising). What mix of coolant are you using? I just sprung a small leak and am looking for a temporary fix before I pull the head next year.

Tim
'54 BN1
 
My BN1 leaks like crazy.

My A90, with 6.9:1 compression ratio and non pressurized cooling system, doesn't leak at all...

go figure.
 
What is leaking from the head gasket? Oil or water. I am in a similar situation AGAIN. My 3000 leaked oil from between the head and the block(After rebuild #1). I removed the head last winter and had it checked for warpage. the specs came back flat and I renewed the gasket (moss) and put a small amount of gasket sealer on both sides. I only applied the brush on aviation sealer around the oil gally (under pressure) and around the push rod holes. It ran leak free for about 1500 miles this summer and now it is leaking oil again.

Does the commonwealth believe the dennis welch gasket will help? do I have a warped block? should I insist the head be milled? I have all winter to fix this problem and I dont want to do it a forth time.

Thanks for any input

Kevin R
 
Hi Kevin,
Where is the oil leaking? Is it by the sparkplugs? I thought I had a gasket problem, 'til I found the problem was the rocker shaft studs. The head is drilled and tapped all the way through right above the plugs. So if the rocker studs aren't fully seated (or sealed) they might leak, making it look like a head gasket issue.
 
During the racing season, we only run distilled water and a can of radiator lube. During the winter we use a 50/50 ratio of water to coolant. When we last had the head off (burn thru between cycl 1&2 or 3&4, forget which, and this was NOT a DW gasket), we had the head pressure tested for cracks (there was none), and then had the head surfaced/milled, again forget how much, but as little as was possible. Then installed a DW gasket, added the water and Moroso sealer, and followed their directions. Upon start up, car leaked above the # plate, but in minutes (running), the leak stopped. We have run the car like this for 2 racing seasons. I would not worry about using coolant w/the Moroso. Just run the car w/water and the sealer, then drain the system and do a 50/50 coolant mix. This stuff works great! I have heard all sorts of stories of cracked heads, etc, and Moroso fixes 99% of the problems.
 
The Moroso is for the coolant leaks, right? I have an oil leak (seep) at the rear of the head and above the spark plugs. Moss suggests using no sealer with their gasket. What do you all think and use?
 
Hi TH,

Great to see you guys at the Morgan Hill Show.

An experienced engine builder (old flatheads v8s etc.) advised me long ago to "spray one thin coat of silver paint (any type) on head gasket mating surfaces to reduce or eliminate oil seepage". Although described more colorfully, the technique fills slight imperfections and pores with good results. This and good machining - minimal planing of the cylinder head - works.

Now I'll wait to get flamed!

Gonzo
 
Thanks, Gonzo. I have used that before back in the 70s. Some used varnish. Old timer technique. I thought there might be some amazing new technology.
 
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