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I had a bunch of trouble with head gaskets before my last rebuild. It occur=
red to me that the laminated copper gaskets I was using had an area of over=
lap in the combustion chamber that exposes the thin copper to erosion by ho=
t combustion gases. My theory is that the copper burns away and exposes the=
asbestos core which is then gradually burned out until the gasket fails ca=
tastrophically. I used a solid copper gasket for a time with good results, =
but couldn=92t get it to seal between the oil and water systems. At the las=
t rebuild I installed the Denis Welch competition gasket and had both surfa=
ces tried and finished. The results have been great.
________________________________
From: Healeys <healeys-bounces@autox.team.net> on behalf of Steven Kingsbur=
y via Healeys <healeys@autox.team.net>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 4:34 PM
To: Healey Mail List <healeys@autox.team.net>
Subject: [Healeys] Head Gasket Woes Part Three
Let me start with a little history with this email. My engine has just a sh=
ade under 3,000 miles on it since rebuild. The head was checked for cracks,=
none found and was ever so slightly shaved to make sure it was completely =
flat. The machine shop I use builds race engines and they do really good, r=
eliable work.
Then the block was gone through, new sleeves inserted and bored so to fit m=
y new pistons. Again the top of the block was checked and double checked to=
make sure it was flat and mated to the head.
When I fired this engine up for the first time after rebuild, she lept to l=
ife! No turning it over and over and over. She fired right up. I was quite =
pleased.
I ran the engine for about twenty minutes at 2,000 RPM, never got above 180=
degrees and then took her out on the road. I took care not to over rev, an=
d drove up a long hill in third gear at low RPM to help set the rings.
I did have some problems with the distributor, but that was fixed and at fi=
fty miles I checked the head again for torque. I drove the car more and ret=
orqued the head again at 150 miles, all was fine.
I checked again at 500 miles and again at 1500 miles. All was fine.
Anyway, this history is to let you know I think I did everything I could an=
d did everything overly cautious to break this engine in correctly. And thi=
s engine was running great! My car was a joy to drive and loved cruising do=
wn the freeway at 80 mph! Seventy was a sweet spot and was a joy to drive.
I'm now thinking of going with the aluminum head thanks to the combined wis=
dom of this list. Aluminum head with the steel gasket. I've heard nothing b=
ut good news about them and I don't want to have that worry/doubt while dri=
ving down the road. I am also going to continue down the path of fixing thi=
s head as I think it's worth it in the long run.
I want to thank all of those sending in suggestions and tips and cautionary=
tales and things to look for and all of the views have led me to believe, =
bite the bullet and spend the money.
Thank you all and I will report back!
Steven Kingsbury
BN1
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<div><br>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family: inherit; font-size: inherit; color: inherit;">I =
had a bunch of trouble with head gaskets before my last rebuild. It occurre=
d to me that the laminated copper gaskets I was using had an area of overla=
p in the combustion chamber that exposes
the thin copper to erosion by hot combustion gases. My theory is that the =
copper burns away and exposes the asbestos core which is then gradually bur=
ned out until the gasket fails catastrophically. I used a solid copper gask=
et for a time with good results,
but couldn=92t get it to seal between the oil and water systems. At the la=
st rebuild I installed the Denis Welch competition gasket and had both surf=
aces tried and finished. The results have been great.</div>
<hr style=3D"display:inline-block;width:98%" tabindex=3D"-1">
<div id=3D"divRplyFwdMsg" dir=3D"ltr"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" st=
yle=3D"font-size:11pt" color=3D"#000000"><b>From:</b> Healeys <healeys-b=
ounces@autox.team.net> on behalf of Steven Kingsbury via Healeys <hea=
leys@autox.team.net><br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 23, 2022 4:34 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Healey Mail List <healeys@autox.team.net><br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Healeys] Head Gasket Woes Part Three</font>
<div> </div>
</div>
<div>
<div>Let me start with a little history with this email. My engine has just=
a shade under 3,000 miles on it since rebuild. The head was checked for cr=
acks, none found and was ever so slightly shaved to make sure it was comple=
tely flat. The machine shop I use
builds race engines and they do really good, reliable work.<br>
</div>
<div>Then the block was gone through, new sleeves inserted and bored so to =
fit my new pistons. Again the top of the block was checked and double check=
ed to make sure it was flat and mated to the head.<br>
</div>
<div>When I fired this engine up for the first time after rebuild, she lept=
to life! No turning it over and over and over. She fired right up. I was q=
uite pleased.
<br>
</div>
<div>I ran the engine for about twenty minutes at 2,000 RPM, never got abov=
e 180 degrees and then took her out on the road. I took care not to over re=
v, and drove up a long hill in third gear at low RPM to help set the rings.=
<br>
</div>
<div>I did have some problems with the distributor, but that was fixed and =
at fifty miles I checked the head again for torque. I drove the car more an=
d retorqued the head again at 150 miles, all was fine.<br>
</div>
<div>I checked again at 500 miles and again at 1500 miles. All was fine.&nb=
sp;<br>
</div>
<div>Anyway, this history is to let you know I think I did everything I cou=
ld and did everything overly cautious to break this engine in correctly. An=
d this engine was running great! My car was a joy to drive and loved cruisi=
ng down the freeway at 80 mph! Seventy
was a sweet spot and was a joy to drive. <br>
</div>
<div>I'm now thinking of going with the aluminum head thanks to the combine=
d wisdom of this list. Aluminum head with the steel gasket. I've heard noth=
ing but good news about them and I don't want to have that worry/doubt whil=
e driving down the road. I am also
going to continue down the path of fixing this head as I think it's worth =
it in the long run. <br>
</div>
<div>I want to thank all of those sending in suggestions and tips and cauti=
onary tales and things to look for and all of the views have led me to beli=
eve, bite the bullet and spend the money.<br>
</div>
<div>Thank you all and I will report back!<br>
</div>
<div>Steven Kingsbury<br>
</div>
<div>BN1 <br>
</div>
</div>
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