How bad is mayonese accumulating on my RADIATOR cap, thats right not the filler but the radiator. I've flushed the tank and refiled new coolant, but its there again. Its greyer in texture than the rocker stuff I've seen on other cars but is quite obviously oil - gets black when rubbed.

There seems to be no gas bubles in the coolant so I dont know what could be wrong.

Dollar to a dime- time for a new head gasket...

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

I hear a vented radiator cap will fix it right up!!

ouch....

naaah man... a head gasket aint that hard to fix...

dunno what the price is on a mini gasket.. but the one for my datsun stanza cost me $16.. and an half a day of work (6hrs to be precice)
of those who thing.. man that took a long time... it was the first time I had done it

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...its leaking oil... and thats a good sign!
It lets me know that I havent run out yet. -Tzi 4-9-04

Dr any pointers, tipd, suggestions for the least messy experience before I start?

And doesnt the absence of gas in the coolant speak against the head gasket point?

That depends on where the head gasket has blown - it can blow between cylinders, between oilways, coolant galleries etc. Head gaskets are particularly easy on Minis. Try doing it on cars with overhead cams.
A head gasket costs about $20 for a Mini.

Anto

Yeah, I'll agree with the head gasket comment. ya dont need bubbles in the coolant for that. as a matter of fact, if its nasty, the coolant can end up in the oil, and turn your sump into a sludge pit.

Ventilated radiator cap....... where can I get one, I need a quart of elbow grease, and two tins of headlight fluid too.

Ya wouldnt happen to have a box of sparks handy, by any chance would ya??

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"He's always been a dickhead, He always is a dickhead, He will always be a dickhead. So stop complaining when he acts like one."

Vented Rad cap??!!?!?!

U mean re-thread the rad cap and fit a Sparkplug

VVVVRRROOOOOMMMMM PSSSSHHHHHHH!!!! ............(not a turbo..... but a blown headgasket )

-Cam

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IS NOW BACK ONLINE AFTER SOMETIME..... SORRY TO ALL, FOR NOT REPLYING TO PM'S!!

I just took the head off mine for new valve stem seals and a bit more porting...

I found if I unscrewed all the head studs (with 2 nuts locked together) I could slide it forward, and up, leaving the LCB and ALL the exhaust still bolted together..

Block is easier to clean up without the studs, and I countersunk the stud holes to be sure, to be sure..

It helps if the studs were not fitted by a 400lb gorilla..

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

HA HA HA HA HA HA!!!!!!!!!

Try doin THAT one to MY car!

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[NATHAN] -- Sold everything mini related and am back in big beautiful BMWs

I know I'm dreaming but is there anyway of removing the studs without removing the twin carbys?

And also whyle I'm there what gaskets should I replace?

For the minor gaskets should I buy the right ones or just cut some from gasket material?

Cheers

All I needed was the head gasket, and a bypass hose (straight heater hose is better- lasts longer).

If you don't have a top steady bar, and leave the thermostat housing on there, you won't need gaskets for it, ditto the heater outlet- just pull the hose off.

You WILL need a manifold gasket, and maybe a rocker cover one.

Best deal is buy a VRS gasket set- you get these gaskets plus valve stem seals.

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DrMini- 1970 wasaMatic 1360, Mk1S crank, 86.6HP (ATW) =~125 @ crank, 45 Dellorto (38 chokes), RE282 sprint cam, 1.5 rockers, 11.0:1 C/R.

Head's off, no heater or bypass hoses so thats was easy. I only changed my manifold gasket 7 weeks ago so I'm not sure if I'm gonna reuse it or use the one from the vrs set.

Is there anything to do while its off? The chambers are covered in black burnt residue (dry) and the old gasket has fallen apart and is stuck to the head now. Do I just remove and polish it all with some fine sand paper? Should I touch the stuff inside the chambers anyway?

Cheers