Triumph Spitfire head gasket keeps blowing. Here's my solution.

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I just finished rebuilding the engine in my 76 Triumph Spitfire and made some fun modifications to improve performance. Everything works great, but it keeps blowing head gaskets.
Apparently modern Payan head gaskets aren't what they used to be. In this video I'm plugging the indexing holes in the block with JB Weld and leveling it to eliminate this problem. Also going to go with another brand of head gasket this time.

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24 июн 2023

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Комментарии : 16

@robertbekkers4974 17 дней назад

I have a 1980 Spitfire and I am pretty sure the head gasket blew as I had serious overheating issues. I am soooooo hoping this is what the issue is for me (and I didn't get the head cracked in the process) . Thank you for sharing!

@ianm2719 Год назад

Just seen your channel for the first time, great to see an old Triumph Spitfire again, I had a dark maroun red one in the late 70's anyway i digress. An old trick I use - I think it was an essenntial on the Ford Kent motors if I recall correctly, is to spray paint the head gasket with Chrome Paint, or paint with a high Chromme content - let it dry and then fit - works really well - obviously in your case there are side issues as well.

@matui6983 Год назад

We use VHT Copper head gasket spray. Truly brilliant for headgaskets. Stops leaks and takes up tiny imperfections in shim style gaskets.

@dragon_gate_garage Год назад

Thanks! I believe that it is copper spray you are thinking of. I thought about it, but have heard mixed thoughts on the matter. One thing is for sure, these are not the same quality gaskets they were making 20 years ago.

@matui6983 Год назад

We used to use Aluminium paint on our engines but the quality of the paint dropped off and it became thinner and thinner so went to the VHT. As long as the headgasket only is sprayed and not the head/s or block it has performed perfectly for us. Ive read mixed thoughts too but have never struck any issues. We only do diesels up to 24 litres nowadays so maybe there are issues with certain petrol engines but none of the older English stuff Ive used it on for family or friends has given up any dramas.

@bobbyrowland6577 Год назад

There are head gaskets that incorporate an o ring that go in the recess around the cylinders. You need one of those gaskets or have the top of block decked to eliminate o ring of course that will increase compression dramatically

@dragon_gate_garage 3 месяца назад

The type of gasket was correct. It was in part the cheap gasket material that was at fault.

@matui6983 Год назад

Couple of things: not only does it blow out to that aligning dowel but it has blown between the same 2 cylinders on at least two of the gaskets. Is the head dead flat? Have you looked at using head studs instead of headbolts? Definately be re-torquing the head after at least one good heat cycle Plus I dont know if you use coolant in the cooling system but we always run older engines with just plain water in the system for 500 odd kms before adding coolant. Allows anything in the block to get flushed out when drained and with certain composite gaskets like yours we have found anti-freeze can and does soften the gasket material on certain gaskets up making it easier to fail. Put oil or assembly lube under the head of the head bolt or the nut if using studs. It increases the clamping pressure on the gasket rather than if the fastener gets torqued up dry.

@dragon_gate_garage Год назад

Yep, both surfaces are dead flat. Made certain of that with sharpie and leveling block. Yes, using new head studs and retorquing after a 30 minute burn in. Also running just water. This thing was frustrating the piss out of me until I learned these indexing holes were partly the culprit. I used a 20+ year old Payan gasket the first time, didn't retorque it and it held great. The new Payan gaskets look very different from the old ones. Where the gaskets blew between the cylinders looks to originate from the indexing holes as well.

@matui6983 Год назад

Heres hoping its cured now. Certainly doing all the right things by the engine thats for sure. Spoke to my engine machinist down here in NZ and hes seen that before. They have filled in the holes with similar plasti-metals/epoxies. Knocked in metal dowels, used brass or steel freeze plugs. All methods work none really better than another but he prefers the solid metal dowels/plugs.

@robertbekkers4974 2 дня назад

I filled the two bore holes but I was wondering if it actually helped you prevent your head gasket to fail?

@dragon_gate_garage День назад

I can't tell you for certain that it helps, but I can say that it doesn't hurt. I have heard though that it helps to support the gasket in that weak spot. I read somewhere of people using a bronze valve guide in the hole then having it machined level, but that requires a trip to the machine shop.

@billwelter4101 7 месяцев назад

Clamping force is on the cylinder liner, shouldnt blow unless there's an issue at that spot, pretty weird though

@dragon_gate_garage 3 месяца назад

The major issue was cheap outsourced materials for a vital component. Old stock Payan gaskets were great, the newer stuff is garbage. I've seen many others in forums with the exact same issue.