Help - Head Gasket Question
UKKid35 - 2/9/15 at 09:05 PM
Is there any chance that this will seal?
Photos show deformed fire ring, and then the cylinder head damage from where the failure happened.
"Why don't you just skim the head?" I hear you say - Because it was aggressively skimmed 4 years ago and I don't think it will
take another skim.
Are there any cylinder head specialists that can do a really subtle skim?
Also, I have a deadline to work to. I need to have the car ready by the end of the month otherwise I've wasted a significant sum on DN13 at the
Ring.
It would be worth me putting it back together just to do DN13, even if it doesn't seal properly. Even so, though the whole HG change will take
about six weeks (evenings and weekends).
[Edited on 2/9/15 by UKKid35]
Adamirish - 2/9/15 at 09:26 PM
Have you checked to see if the head is actually straight? Personally, I would clean it up, bang a new gasket on and hope for the best. What's the
worst that can happen? It will blow again. So you have only lost the price of a HG.
UKKid35 - 2/9/15 at 09:32 PM
No, not checked whether they are straight.
Oh, and I have cleaned it up as much as I can. I would have had them soda blasted if I'd known that was an option before I started, but all the
mating surfaces are clean now (as far as I can tell).
I agree, the HG swap that was my original plan. The HG cost is 'only' £250 for the pair, so not the end of the world. But it really will
take me six weeks to turn it round (took me four months first time four years ago).
Adamirish - 2/9/15 at 09:41 PM
If you can borrow an engineers straight edge then it's fairly easy to check.
Do you know anybody handy with the spanners that can put it back together for you over a weekend?
To be honest, just putting some gaskets on and trying it is what I would do. Keep an eye on pressures and temps and see what happens.
*disclaimer, I shall not be held responsible if it self destructs!
UKKid35 - 2/9/15 at 10:02 PM
quote:
Originally posted by Adamirish
Do you know anybody handy with the spanners that can put it back together for you over a weekend?
The issue is that the heads can't be removed in situ (because the timing cover is trapped by the chassis), but I have to work with the engine in
situ, so that means there's a lot of pre and post work. Even when the heads are back on it will be another ten days or so before I can get it on
the road, and that is best case scenario.
britishtrident - 3/9/15 at 06:44 AM
The root of the problem is coolant hasn't been regularly drained and refilled ate the specified intervals with fresh correct coolant at the
correct concentration.
I would check if a "head saver" shim gasket is available for this engine as the only cure is going to be a fairly deep skim.
The block will also need checked carefully.
Oddified - 3/9/15 at 06:56 AM
That's quite a bit of corrosion, i think you'll be lucky if that seals and/or doesn't blow again quite quickly without skimming.
Ian
UKKid35 - 3/9/15 at 08:24 PM
I have decided to take the heads to Roland Alsop near Chobham on the recommendation of Charlie at SRR.
After discussing the issues with them I am confident that they understand my concerns, and can do the minimum skim necessary. We will see.
UKKid35 - 13/3/17 at 01:39 PM
quote:
Originally posted by UKKid35
I have decided to take the heads to Roland Alsop near Chobham on the recommendation of Charlie at SRR.
After discussing the issues with them I am confident that they understand my concerns, and can do the minimum skim necessary. We will see.
All going well so far, probably 5k miles and perhaps ten track days.