[TR] Spitfire head gasket

[David Friedlander]

AARP bolts? Maybe they're took old to work and have retired! LOL!

Dave

On Apr 4, 2017 1:36 AM, "Roger Elliott" <elliottr at rmi.net> wrote:

> The shop did the head rebuild and install both times, so I am not sure if
> they followed the correct procedures. It has AARP studs.  They were new
> when they rebuilt the head the first time and have not been replaced.
>
> The first time they rebuilt the head, the head gasket blew at 800 miles.
> (It had been retorqued).  I replaced the head gasket that time as I didn't
> want to wait to get it in.  I used a better head gasket, discovered the
> timing was way too far advanced, I figured that was why the head gasket
> blew.  I followed the manual for tightening specs and order.   Actually I
> used the AARP specs for tightening, I think they were a bit higher than the
> manual.
>
> Then one of the valves froze at 2000 miles after the head rebuild - 1200
> after I replace the head gasket.  Head had been retorqued.  This is when
> they said nothing they did caused the valve to stick.  They added an
> external oil feed  as they said it was not getting lubrication, plus new
> valves, seats and guides.
>
> When I checked the block it seemed good, but I was doing around the head
> studs.
>
> Oh, when I got it home and started looking at it, 2 valves were less than
> .004, the rest were one each .005 through .010.
>
> Just looked back at the head gasket.  It doesn't look so good. It has
> holes around the sealing ring.
> Roger
>
> On 04/03/2017 06:11 AM, ptegler wrote:
>
> upon installing the head after the first rebuild, did you re-torque the
> head after the intial warmup up/cool down heat cycle?
>
> did you use new head studs? what spec did you torque to?  proper order of
> studs?
> Paul Tegler ptegler at verizon.net www.teglerizer.com
> On 4/2/2017 10:25 PM, Chris Simo wrote:
>
> Any chance the block is not flat?
>
> On Apr 2, 2017 7:55 PM, "Roger Elliott" <elliottr at rmi.net> wrote:
>
>> Hi All,
>>
>> I have a 1980 Spitfire, the head has been rebuilt twice in the last 2,500
>> miles.  (Shop claims something happened between first and second rebuild,
>> so not their fault)
>>
>> Anyway, I have taken it for a few drives ~60  miles at a time and all
>> seemed good, so we were going to take it on a bit longer drive.
>>
>> 35 miles from home, the temp gauge is pegged, I put in lots of water -
>> maybe not quite a half gallon.  Started up to try to drive back home, there
>> was lots of white smoke from the exhaust.  I don't think it was smoking
>> much if at all before it overheated as I was kind of keeping an eye on the
>> car behind us and did not see smoke.
>>
>> I got 3 miles and decided to call a tow truck.  It was low on water again
>> - at least a quart in those 3 miles.
>>
>> I used a leak down tester - though didn't really do a real leak down test
>> - to see if the cylinders were holding air.  All seemed fine except 4 which
>> was not holding air and I could hear the air coming through the radiator
>> water was bubbling.
>>
>> So, I took the head off expecting the head gasket to be blown or
>> something obvious with the head.
>>
>> Head gasket was fine.  My checks of the head with feeler gauge and
>> straight edge indicated it is flat.  I don't see anything wrong with the
>> head.
>>
>> Do I need to have it checked for cracks?  Or what else could be wrong?
>>
>> Or could it be that the overheating loosened the head enough that water
>> got past the gasket?
>>
>> Thanks,
>>
>> Roger Elliott
>>
>>
>> ** triumphs at autox.team.net **
>>
>> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
>> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
>> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
>> Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/
>> options/triumphs/ccsimonsen at gmail.com
>>
>
>
> ** triumphs at autox.team.net **
>
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/triumphs/ptegler@verizon.net
>
>
>
>
>
> ** triumphs at autox.team.net **
>
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/options/triumphs/elliottr@rmi.net
>
>
>
>
> ** triumphs at autox.team.net **
>
> Donate: http://www.team.net/donate.html
> Archive: http://www.team.net/archive
> Forums: http://www.team.net/forums
> Unsubscribe/Manage: http://autox.team.net/mailman/
> options/triumphs/forzion7 at gmail.com
>
>
-------------- next part --------------
An HTML attachment was scrubbed...
URL: <http://autox.team.net/pipermail/triumphs/attachments/20170404/782ba1c0/attachment.html>