i have a new head gasket and i need to know if i should use a gasket sealant like ultra blue or aviation gasket goo or nothing at all , whats everyones opinion ??

cheers

Generally nothing should be fine if the surfaces are flat and clean.

If you have a new copper gasket (not as good as the mono torque ones) I would use Holymar on it. I used a copper one last time with Holymar & there have been no BHG's for me since it was put on 18 months ago.

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"In two years time your car will be like a lady's clothes, out of date, my car will still be in fashion when I am dead" - Sir Alec speaking to Pininfarina

ok cool , i dont know wot it is made from , its from a rebuild kit from minisport

If it looks like Copper then it's a Copper Gasket, if its dull silver it's Aluminium (this is most likely what you have).

I've never used sealant on any Head Gaskets (when it's a cast iron head). I make sure the Head and Block is;-

1) FLAT
2) CLEAN and
3) DRY

The above cannot be over-stated.

When Torquing it down, DO NOT try to torque it down in one go to the recommended torque, do it in small stages of say 10 ft/lb per 'go' (So first time around, torque to 10 ft/lb, second time 20 ft/lb etc)

Never had a problem.

ok sweet cheers

if its a 998 or 1100 put a ACL Monotorque which can be purchased from your local Repco dealer but if a 1275 engine Payen BK450 head gasket

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Stop Licking the Dog...I Don't Care Who Started It

If you have a copper head gasket just throw it in the bin now and save time.
They are rubbish. They used to be good when they contained asbestos but now they are filled with something like old newspaper and they last about a week.

It amazes me that they still charge more $$ for these things, as if they are better.
Maybe they once were, but NOT anymore.. they are rubbish.
I gave up using them on 1275s when you had to run a bead of Loctite or whatever sealant along the front, to stop it dribbling coolant down the block. This even with a freshly decked head and block.

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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.

the one i have is Aluminium , any good?

It's probably just sprayed with aluminium or something to make it silver looking. I used one years ago in a stock 1275, it was OK. Better than POS copper ones now.

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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.

ok well i will see how it goes hopefully it is ok

Hi all,

Now I've only recently signed up here but I have been
in this game for while. I have ALWAYS used copper gaskets
and I have NEVER had to 'run a bead of loctite' around the mating
to stop it leaking.

Did you check the deck was flat? Not to take the
pi$$ but were you using second hand studs? What finish was the deck, was it a course milled finish or polished, (if milled remember your oil or diamond stone)? Did you remember to lightly counter bore the holes in the deck for the studs? Did you tighten the studs into the block to 5-7 foot pounds or were they loose?

Look I'm not out to kick any one in the crouch, not at all, that's
just really wierd. As for the almighty "monotorque" I tried one of
those a couple of years ago. I torqued it up and took it for a run, I checked it after 10 hours of running I checked and I had to re-torque the damn thing, It had lost heaps, that's not what I call merchantable quality. It failled to perform as described. I'd "throw that it the bin".

I used to use the copper competition gaskets but in the last few years that has been a big run of failures with them. All the failures have been with recently fitted gaskets, some on rebuilt engines with newly machined surfaces.

What M1100said ^^^
I used to use the competition gaskets too.
I'm talking above blocks and heads that were surface ground in a toolroom... yes, they were flat as, stud holes were countersunk and the studs were cleaned and the threads fine..
Problem with dribbling disappeared when I switched to using BK450 composition gaskets.

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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.

Hi Morris 1100

How long did it take before they went? Just in the last 14 months I have done 3 motors all with copper gaskets and haven't
had a problem yet. I haven't seen one of these or any of the others come back with issues. Should I expect one soon?

When I said "did you check that the deck was flat" I meant after getting it back from the machine shop.
You can never be too careful. I've had cranks come back with ONE main out by .003", I've had motors come back bored
off centre and one off square all soughts of stupid $h!t that you shouldn't have to look out for.

You've got to check everything, if you check it before you assemble and its out its the machinists fault.
If you assemble and then find out its yours for not checking. My current machinists, Steve and Andrew from windsor engines, are freaking awesome,
but I still check their stuff. Not cause I think they're slack but because I'm not. (By the way I'm not calling anyone here slack, most people don't check cos
they've never asked a machinist how the warranty works).

PS sorry drmini in aust, I was still typing when you posted that and I didn't see it!