Hey guys anyone got any tips for replacing my head gasket/want to help for $$/Beer?

get a manual

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1975 Leyland Mini: 1060cc - resto/ ex-hsc project.

My tips for new players:
1. Follow the manual step by step
2. Clean the gasket faces properly (gasket remover spray is great) with rags stuffed in the bores
3. Fit a new bypass hose to the water pump BEFORE putting the head back on.
4. Don't mix up the order of the push rods.
5. Borrow a torque wrench if you don't have one.
6. The gasket is marked with TOP for a reason.

Might take you a little while the first time, but it's easy after that and an essential mini owners skill

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Too many cars, and too little time.

use paper towel instead of rags. you can't get a strand caught in your engine, and if there is any leftover it will burn away, instead of getting tangled up...

as stated, follow the manual, once you've done it you'll see it's not so hard/daunting.

make sure all mating surfaces are SPOTLESSLY CLEAN!!! make them shiny

OH and if you don't have a manual, get one. you will need it very frequently

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78 Leyland Mini - Prince

And perfectly flat. Check them with a straightedge & feeler guage.
Also, if your nuts (cylinder head that is) do not torque up properly, your studs are probably stretched. Nothing is forever (despite what women will try to con you into )

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1967 Cooper S - new front bearings to do.
1965 Cooper S shell - Slow progress. No time or money!
1966 Deluxe- next rustoration!
Mk 2 & XJ6 Jags. Less said the better.

Loosen all the rockers and readjust when head has been refitted, head gaskets vary in thickness and these clearances will never be the same, even if you don't mix the pushrods up..

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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.

What are the consequences of loosing the order of the pushrods? Does it matter if you use brand new lifters as you would in an engine rebuild rather than just a gasket change?

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

Just more time spent getting the tappet clearances right.

If you have the pushrods in the same order with the same new gasket, then the gaps should be ptetty close to spot on.

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Too many cars, and too little time.

Yeah that's all I thought, that's ok.

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

Don't get a copper competition* head gasket, they are rubbish.


* the competition refers to how many head gaskets you can blow in a year.

Once upon a time these had asbestos in 'em and were a good gasket.
Now.......
Best smallbore one about at the moment seems to be the ACL Monotorque one. They are hard to blow even with turbo boost.

Best bigbore one IMO is the Payen BK450 `black' so-called Metro Turbo one.

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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.

Go easy on the thermostat bolts or studs if you have a yen to removing them. They tend to get fairly corroded in, take your time and use a penetrating oil. Don't over tighten any of the studs or bolts when you put them back in either.

A short enjoyable job quickly dissolves into a massacre if you snap a stud or strip a thread...

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SooperDooperMiniCooperExpertEngineering

All garage work involves equal measures of enthusiasm, ingenuity and a fair degree of irresponsibility.

Thanks heaps guys!! great info!

Been there done that...

Old thread in the head, thermostat stud a little tight. Suddently snaps off flat on the head. Try and easy out, get that stuck in there. After drilling and fitting a helicoil, time and money is wasted over a silly and simple thing.

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1964 Morris 850, 1330 Supercharged - 81.8hp atws.
1975 Leyland Mini S 1100S powered - Nice and reliable.
1977 Leyland Mini LS - Project LS-T

Would people recommend copper antisieze or go the whole hog and get stainless studs?

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David L


My greatest fear in life is that when I die my wife will sell my Mini and tools for the price I told her I paid for them!