[TR] Spitfire head gasket

Roger Elliott elliottr at rmi.net
Tue Apr 4 16:45:42 MDT 2017


LOL.  I guess it is me that should be retired.

Roger


On 04/04/2017 08:27 AM, David Friedlander wrote:
> 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 
> <mailto: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 <mailto:ptegler at verizon.net>
>>     www.teglerizer.com <http://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
>>>     <mailto: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
>>>
>>>
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>>
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