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Hello from Paula and her Vitesse


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1 hour ago, Pete Lewis said:

if you do have to lift the head get a set of head nuts washer faced from mini spares 3/8" x24  unf 

cheaper and better to replace the old ones i bet the washers will be dished

do you want my spare gaskets I dont need them 

Pete

I’ve ordered a gasket set. Probably easier. I’m going to try and torque them down first to see if that works. I’ll order the nuts now. 
cheers!

if torquing doesn’t work I’d appreciate a check list of the procedure for changing the head gasket.

just so I don’t screw it up!

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Paula,

For an important job it can be surprisingly straight forward and easy. I had complications with the studs which required a visit from Uncle Pete and his magic impact driver. I've done it easily on many cars before, it was just this last once was a pain.  Just follow your Haynes/WSM. Before we drifted off wasn't there some talk of the water pump? Best be certain of that first?

Doug

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59 minutes ago, poppyman said:

Hi Paula, have you tried running the engine without the pressure cap fully tight? ie no pressure in system.  If the leak stops, it probably is not the head gskt. If it continues look elsewhere.

Tony.

I’ll try this later. 

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12 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said:

agree its pretty unusual for a   HG to leak coolant externally 

do check its not from a failed hose where the inner liner has failed and coolant gets squirted out the

end of the hose where you can see the reinforcing fabric in between the two layers of rubber 

pete

Unusual but not impossible. Had it with a mgf! Waterways we blocked with casting marks. Couple of times though it was core plugs corroded, on my spit 1500 and an escort 1300, especially the ones round the back of the engine!

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12 minutes ago, Paula said:

I've just run it without the radiator cap on and it's still bubbling out of the same place. It does it straight away from cold as soon as it's running. 

That means head gasket i guess?

 

Mmmm, i guess so Paula, so long as there is nothing else close to the leak? For it to be bubbling out it must have blown into a cylinder.... I would have thought it would be overheating or pressurising the system though.

Tony.

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Just now, Pete Lewis said:

there are thing that get in the way of a socket   like   rocker  shafts and maybe some manifold  stuff on a Mk1 or 1600  with a stepped head top 

on a retorque its obviously   best to do all nuts not just the easy ones 

pete

If i have to take the rocker off and the manifold isn't it worth taking the head off for a look see?

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well a retorque doesnt need a drain down or the manifolds off 

as an interim trial 

but you like a challenge 

head off can be stubborn if any studs have corroded gunge locking them in the head holes 

doug had a really stuck set  and we used my prefered stud extractor and a loooong  braker bar 

with both of us swinging on it to unscrew the studs to get the head off  this bit of kit wont let go 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/tool-connection-tc3986-impact-stud-extractor/

265DA522-B3E3-41D3-B058-A7B556D5B394-large.jpg

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7 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said:

well a retorque doesnt need a drain down or the manifolds off 

as an interim trial 

but you like a challenge 

head off can be stubborn if any studs have corroded gunge locking them in the head holes 

doug had a really stuck set  and we used my prefered stud extractor and a loooong  braker bar 

with both of us swinging on it to unscrew the studs to get the head off  this bit of kit wont let go 

https://www.machinemart.co.uk/p/tool-connection-tc3986-impact-stud-extractor/

265DA522-B3E3-41D3-B058-A7B556D5B394-large.jpg

Oh dear. Don’t like the sound of that much. 
I thought the manifolds have to come off to get to the nuts?

I’ll  get the Haynes out!

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29 minutes ago, Pete Lewis said:

well a retorque doesnt need a drain down or the manifolds off

err....

20 minutes ago, Paula said:

I thought the manifolds have to come off to get to the nuts?

Correct - Pete seems to have forgotten that quirk of the Mk1 head. But the manifolds aren't as much hassle as the full drain down and removal of water pump housing.

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Ha didnt forget  just cant type  

ignore Doug he's just warming up after duxford in his.............. fiesta

my battery 250lb impact wrench was no use   just 2 purfectly proportioned old codgers on a 3ft breaker bar 

I once put a tube in a manifold port of a mk1 2000 back in the 70s and jacked the car air bourn

ended up with a hacksaw blade through a small gap to cut the one stud off   took a club hammer and press to get the stud out the head  the remains  unscrewed from the block with fingers 

others the head just lifts off  theres no telling ...be prepared for strong coffee

Pete

 

pete 

 

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