Adrian Posted November 1, 2019 Report Share Posted November 1, 2019 Hello all I'm not intending to do this but I was wondering, as our cars are getting older and are passing through an increasing number of hands (some of which do thing right and others not) is there any way of testing/checking to see if a head has been converted to unleaded? We see these cars coming up on ebay etc and we only have the PO comment as to what fuel can be used - I was told the Mini was unleaded but I don't know. Obviously I assume a lack of compression could mean a head was not converted but I know that isn't the only reason it could happen. Just wondering? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted November 1, 2019 Report Share Posted November 1, 2019 you can only wait till a valve or gasket goes and then have a look, i guess a borescope down a plug hole and a look under an open exhaust valve you may see the inserted ring of the valve seat its generally only exhaust valves that have the seat ugrade theres so much lead memory from running around for years on leaded that the casting takes on a lot of lead memory there is little cause for any concerns until something does age and a valve burns , keep to 97+ ron fuel keep the timing about right ( not retarded) and dont run on a weak mixture and they probably out last us Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
68vitesse Posted November 2, 2019 Report Share Posted November 2, 2019 Been driving my Vitesse since the mid nineties, never had the head converted, average about three thousand miles a year. Regards Paul Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteH Posted December 18, 2019 Report Share Posted December 18, 2019 (edited) In my case. Fortunate to have the paperwork, which shows the head was exchanged for "unleaded" courtesy TSSC "shop". Sometime in the late 80`s. However I do have a Cylinder showing significantly lower compression, so I will take the head off at some stage. Edited December 18, 2019 by PeteH spelin! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 18, 2019 Report Share Posted December 18, 2019 its always worth a re torque , the washers deform and you loose clamp load, do one at t time back off 1/2 turn and re torque, then reset the tappets Pete 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerH Posted December 18, 2019 Report Share Posted December 18, 2019 Hi Pete, I only know stuff about the TR cars/engines all the other TRiumph cars are a mystery. The cylinder head attachment washers come in at £2 each and are on the special side. They do not deform. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted December 18, 2019 Report Share Posted December 18, 2019 17 minutes ago, RogerH said: The cylinder head attachment washers come in at £2 each and are on the special side. They do not deform. Roger That is assuming that whoever has been taking things apart realises And refits or replaces them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RogerH Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 10 hours ago, thescrapman said: That is assuming that whoever has been taking things apart realises And refits or replaces them. Absolutely. 'Previous Owners' are a strange lot. Roger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 On 01/11/2019 at 14:15, Adrian said: Hello all I'm not intending to do this but I was wondering, as our cars are getting older and are passing through an increasing number of hands (some of which do thing right and others not) is there any way of testing/checking to see if a head has been converted to unleaded? As Pete says the only way you can tell is to look at the seats and see if there's an insert. This is the sort of thing you're looking for - a clear ring of modern metal that has been fitted into the head around the valve seat. It'll be hard to see with the head on, but where there's a will.. ! I 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnD Posted December 19, 2019 Report Share Posted December 19, 2019 On 18/12/2019 at 19:33, PeteH said: In my case. Fortunate to have the paperwork, which shows the head was exchanged for "unleaded" courtesy TSSC "shop". Sometime in the late 80`s. However I do have a Cylinder showing significantly lower compression, so I will take the head off at some stage. The oil test will tell you if this low pressure is due to poorly sealing valve or not. It will always raise the pressure, unless there is a valve leak. John Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phil Hayden Posted December 23, 2019 Report Share Posted December 23, 2019 In respect of unconverted heads, whats the panels opinion on the use of additives. Always use the good stuff but have had different advice in respect of lead replacement additives. Phil Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
thescrapman Posted December 23, 2019 Report Share Posted December 23, 2019 Consensus has turned to not bothering, Triumph heads seem pretty good at resisting VSR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pete Lewis Posted December 24, 2019 Report Share Posted December 24, 2019 The castings hold years of lead memory and unless the seats are recut you really dont need to worry they will perform okmfor many more miles then most of us manage, time to dream about a exhaust insert is if the head does need to come off In general You dont need to have inlet inserts Each tk thier own but I would stop buying any addatives use the savings for 97+ or better ron fuel and go and drive Gettiing as close to the 100 octane they were designed to run on and keep optimum timing gives best ecconomy, power and smiles If you get paranoid about fuel hose , use gates barricade( eg club shop) change it when you feel like it there are no reports of dissolving carbs or degraded fuel lines from the E Stuff on this forum of collectives but pleanty about aftermarket rubbish of un branded supposed R9 mickey mouse rubber company which fail due to fake specifications not due to the bigE Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Colin Lindsay Posted December 24, 2019 Report Share Posted December 24, 2019 17 hours ago, Phil Hayden said: In respect of unconverted heads, whats the panels opinion on the use of additives. Always use the good stuff but have had different advice in respect of lead replacement additives. Phil I'd use them for the supposed Octane boost rather than any kind of lead replacement. A Herald I bought years ago had about 400 one-shop Castrol additives thrown in, I'm still using them when I remember about them. I've no idea if they make any difference, (even the lawnmower has got one on occasion!) but as Pete says, I'd rather go for the higher octane fuel. None of my cars bar the GT6 are doing the kind of miles that would warrant any head work bar valves and guides. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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