[Healeys] A90 Head Update

[Alan Seigrist]

Hi Perry -

Yes, I retorqued it myself after a couple thousand miles.

Best,

Alan

On Wed, Feb 3, 2021 at 10:49 AM <healeyguy at aol.com> wrote:

> Alan
> Was the head retorqued after installed and run in? I realize it has been a
> long time so that info may not be available.
> Perry
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Alan Seigrist <healey.nut at gmail.com>
> To: Bob Spidell <bspidell at comcast.net>
> Cc: Healey list <healeys at autox.team.net>
> Sent: Tue, Feb 2, 2021 9:01 pm
> Subject: Re: [Healeys] A90 Head Update
>
> Hi Bob -
>
> This gasket was put on the car only about 5K miles ago if you can believe
> it, but the car sat for about 10 years afterwards...  I've checked both the
> head and deck with a rectifier (see pic), both are very nicely flat and do
> not need to go to the machinist.  Both are flat to within 1/1000 on the
> surface... which is less than the error on the rectifier!
>
> I have the previously removed very old copper gasket which I saved and it
> has no signs of gas leaking between cylinders compared to this newer gasket
> that I just removed.  I discovered a few things:
>
>    1. The old gasket is made with better quality, softer copper, and is
>    thicker than the newer gasket that was put on.  The old gasket that showed
>    no problems is 1.8mm thick after being installed, the new gasket that
>    failed is 1.5mm thick after being installed.  The old gasket is very
>    nicely marked as to orientation, directions, copper compression rings are
>    thicker, etc., etc.,  Clearly the older gasket was made to work in
>    circumstances where the mating surfaces weren't always perfectly flat.
>    2. I highly suspect the mechanics that installed the head last time
>    did not torque the head in the proper sequence, quite possibly working from
>    the outside in.
>    3. The head stud mount holes on the deck were raised a bit in couple
>    places and may have caused the head to deflect a little, possibly, but they
>    don't seem to have been enough to make a difference... I have already filed
>    those holes down.  Micheal Salter has told me to run a countersink to debur
>    the hole.
>
> It's a weird one, I think possibly a combination of all three issues
> above.  Let's see how she goes after I finish the job.  Ultimately one
> thing I learned is I cannot anymore rely on mechanics that I do not know
> well to do work on my car... I end up having to redo everything.
>
> Best,
>
> Alan
>
> On 2/1/2021 11:23 PM, Alan Seigrist wrote:
> > All -
> >
> > Got the head off.  Sure enough the gasket blew between 3&4 .  some
> > evidence of gas flow between 1&2 as well. Last pic is of me standing
> > in the engine compartment lifting the head off, just to make all of
> > you jealous ... :D
> >
> > Cheers,
> >
> > Alan
> >
>
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