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TR2/3/3A TR3 Copper Head Gasket -- quick questions

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sammyb

Luke Skywalker
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Two quick questions:
I want to confirm that crimped-side down is correct for TR3 copper head gaskets (one side is smooth, the other is crimped at edges).


And

Do you all use any type of gasket dressing, or just clean with a little alcohol and that's it?

Thanks,
Sam

Oh BTW -- I got a full head gasket set delivered overnight to my friend's shop from Worldpac for $42. Not too shabby!!! THe one I got from Moss was damaged, so I returned it.
 
Hey, Sammy - good to see you on here again!

Been a while since I had my 3, but some help maybe on this thread from a list.

Mickey
 
Well, lots of input on that thread -- almost anything you do you can find someone who agrees with you (like here?).

Me: I spray both sides with rattle-can aluminum paint & never pay much attention to which side is up or down since the holes are there to let it work which ever way you go.
 
Thanks guys. I think I put it crimped side down and sprayed both sides with copper gasket spray. The crack in the head is fixed and it has been surfaced.

Got the head back on, and most everything reconnected. Just need to get the hard-to-reach exhaust manifold fastners in and then reattach the carb/accelerator linkages.

Over the last year or so I haven't had as much time to be online. I've been writing for Cardomain.com and my Four Wheel Drift online automotive sites. Just got back from Pebble Beach/Concorso Italiano/Monterey Historics/various Auctions week. I'm totally exhausted, but the TR3 needed to be put back together.
 
Hiya Sammy! :savewave:

How's yer Ol' Fella's Elan doin'?


<span style="font-style: italic">EDIT: Ya did good with th' headgasket. Rolled lips down, the spray can't hurt a thing, may even help... </span>
 
Doesn't the original manual recommend a smear of "Wellseal" on both sides. I use spray gasket on mine.
 
DrEntropy said:
Hiya Sammy! :savewave:

How's yer Ol' Fella's Elan doin'?


<span style="font-style: italic">EDIT: Ya did good with th' headgasket. Rolled lips down, the spray can't hurt a thing, may even help... </span>
Click to expand...

Hey DrE!

The Elan is great. We took it to watch the vintage races in Kent, WA. I drove it all the way there and back, and it didn't miss a beat. I also drove it on an extremely fast "parade lap" -- we were the last car of the last group...with a bunch of Elises in front of us, so we had to play catch-up on many stretches (meaning flat-out.)

My father was holding the videocam...

And it all appeared in a story I did for Cardomain.com. The link is:
https://blog.cardomain.com/blog/2008/07/i-love-a-parade.html

Got the Triumph buttoned-up today. Tomorrow I'll recheck all the hoses and see if she starts :wink: .
 
WOOHOO!!! I'm a bit green now.

Ya should post that over inna Lotus forum, too. :thumbsup:
 
Guys... Wellseal is an old product. There is better and more modern products have been developed since it came in to use. It is still usable and good but there is much better.
I personally use Permatex copper spray. I build high compression race engines and it works great.
 
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