Cylinder head gasket

[Martin White]

Hi Folks

Just had the cylinder head gasket blow on my 1500 spitfire (lots of white smoke). Does anyone know where I can source a high quality cylinder head gasket set? Did look at K seal but decided to do the job properly but want to make sure that the gasket that goes on is as good as can be.

Thanks

[Clive]

Payen were to best. Heard various things about the latest production, mainly 6 cylinder gaskets but worth checking.

But I would be looking for a NoS Payen. Just not the very latest stock.

[Martin White]

Thanks Clive. Can you elaborate on the NoS Payen not the latest stock comment please?

 

[wimpus]

Bought a new Payen one for a 1500 in july (after 42 years/306.000kms it needed a head rebuild and new gasket).

Now the car had done another +6000km with the new gasket and is fine.

[Martin White]

Doing slightly better than me. Took delivery of new car at 11.30 on Tuesday and head gasket blew at 4.30 same day :-). Thought I might get at least one day before I had to get my hands dirty! Shame really as was really enjoying driving around in a Spit again after 30 years of owning one. Have the luxury this time of a dry and relatively warm garage to work in. Just hoping head gasket is the issue.

[NonMember]

I bought one from Canley last year and not had any trouble yet, but then the car's not had much use due to fuel tank issues.

While you've got the head off it's probably worth replacing the studs and nuts, maybe change to the MiniSpares flanged nuts with the integral "washer".

[68vitesse]

If looking at NOS check what is actually in the packet, it is not unknown for partially used sets to be made up with ones of questionable quality.

Regards

Paul

[Martin White]

Thanks for all of your input guys 👍

[Sparky_Spit]

I have a 1500 Payen head gasket on back order with Paddocks. They tell me that their supplier is waiting for more to be manufactured.  I'm not sure if that is good or bad news?

[Clive]

4 hours ago, Martin White said:

Thanks Clive. Can you elaborate on the NoS Payen not the latest stock comment please?

 

It appears payen have moved factory/country of manufacture, and the latest stuff possibly isn't as accurately cut? 

I would happily buy an ebay set from a reliable seller. 

Check the gasket has the "tag" on it, that shows it is for recessed bores.

And about replacing studs etc. I never have. However NEVER swap the washers unless you have bought the correct hardened type (normal ones will slowly squash and lose torque=blown gasket). The flanged mini head nuts are a good idea, sensibly priced and correct grade 

[Nick Jones]

+1 for the flanged nuts from Minispares. I’d consider those essential. The studs should go again unless obviously damaged.

Does it seem that the head might have been off recently? What symptoms other than white smoke? Header tank like a jacuzzi and smelling of fumes? Water loss? Loss of compression?

Does the car have a brake servo fitted?

Nick

[Pete Lewis]

and do clean/ run a die nut down to clear the stud threads 

and  +1 for mini  nuts cheap and far better than the soft washer problem  

Pete

 

[Martin White]

Seem to have not much water in the radiator but water in the header tank. Oil is clean, no particular weird smell. Car starts OK still and drives (although only to move it to tow truck and into garage). Unfortunately will not have time to look at this weekend as away but will start the process next week. Is it worth filling up with water again to see if I have any bubbles in the radiator/header tank? Anything else I should check before dismantling?

As I say I have had the car less than a week is there anything else to check while the head is off. Check seals of valves with petrol, grind the valves back in? 

I have to admit to being a bit rusty on the maintenance front and probably 30 years since I have taken the head off s spit. 

 

[Martin White]

No brake servo fitted as far as I am aware

[NonMember]

I wouldn't start dismantling the head unless you discover some horrors. No harm doing the valve leak test but unless it's an obvious fail I'd leave it at that and not do any grinding in.

[Martin White]

Sounds goof to me. Thanks for the advice everyone

[Pete Lewis]

with the rocker cover off   is there a stamped number on the top face 

eg tkc1155    may  ????      indicate its unleaded  

https://www.canleyclassics.com/?catalogue=triumph-spitfire-mkiv/1500&diagram=triumph-spitfire-mkiv/1500-cylinder-head-assembly

Pete

[Martin White]

Excuse my ignorance but do I need to change the studs, nuts and washers when changing cylinder head gasket? Best place to buy these is minispares website??

thanks

[johny]

no, studs are reuseable if in good nick but the washers can become dished over time so people replace them with mini combined nut/washer items which are beefier.

[NonMember]

No, you don't necessarily need to, but if there's any sign of worn threads it's worth it. Make sure you get the proper ones, though. The nuts from the MiniSpares website are a good option - I used them on my Mk1 Vitesse (along with some new studs) and it fixed the recurring blown head gasket every 18 months problem that it had.

[Anglefire]

I fitted a new head gasket when I had the head rebuilt (PO of the engine had reground the valves and it was burning a fair amount of oil so had the head unleaded and it was found that the seats had regressed) - and it lasted a few miles - found there was damage - either at the factory or elsewhere that allowed water between the 4/3 cylinders and the water way - was a Payen one - replaced it with another Payen and flanged nuts - I also changed the studs, but that was more that a couple where not in fantastic condition and that I wanted to be sure it had the best chance! 

But as others have said, Payen doesn't seem to be the same company anymore. 

[Martin White]

Thanks again guys very helpful. 

[poppyman]

Are you sure it is the head gasket Martin? Just take take the plugs out and see what colour they are. Also does the white smoke dissapear quick or does it hang around. What is the temp gauge reading? 

Tony. 

[Pete Lewis]

Agree   it wont be the first time a major rebuild was found to be  really  just   contaminated fuel   

have you had any disappearing coolant with no obvious leaks 

Pete

[Roger K]

If you have a head gasket fail it's always a good idea to check the block deck and head face for flat with a good quality straight edge and feeler gauges.  Sometimes head gaskets fail for a reason!