Head Gasket advice

R

Razor7

0
Right, you've probably discussed this at length before but...

Wilma's head gasket went on Saturday evening on the way to a picturesque spot on Dartmoor, (Near Postbridge.) Fortunately, it happened a mile from the camp site, so I gently nursed her to her stable for the night. Then I called the RAC this morning, who took us straight home. Wilma now resting up in the garage, awaiting repair.

As she has a cast iron head, what would people recommend? crack testing, skimming and Re-fitting, or fitting an ali head?

Some advice required please guys...

Cheers, Ray

ps...........need to sort this soon if we are gonna get to Ringwood!?!
 
yeah I'd agree with Martin (seeing as he knows what he's talking about and I dont...)

I'm pretty sure that alloy headed engines are different from their cast iron counterparts in more ways than the stuff the head is made from, for example I think the cams are different for example

Rupert

www.littleyellowcar.co.uk
 
So that's why you weren't at Bridford Rally on Sunday Razor[:0]It was a lovely day. Missed seeing another Commer there.

"Debs&Skye"
 
Thanks guys.

Yes Debs, we were out on Dartmoor and then on to Bridford...but not to be. It wasn't so bad as we were able to camp as planned and then got taken home on RAC 'horseback.' Never mind next year eh?
 
quote:
Originally posted by Razor7

Right, you've probably discussed this at length before but...

Wilma's head gasket went on Saturday evening on the way to a picturesque spot on Dartmoor, (Near Postbridge.) Fortunately, it happened a mile from the camp site, so I gently nursed her to her stable for the night. Then I called the RAC this morning, who took us straight home. Wilma now resting up in the garage, awaiting repair.

As she has a cast iron head, what would people recommend? crack testing, skimming and Re-fitting, or fitting an ali head?

Some advice required please guys...

Cheers, Ray

ps...........need to sort this soon if we are gonna get to Ringwood!?!
Hi, I would be inclined to carefully check out where its blown & if all is well, refit with a copper asbestos type gasket, more forgiving if slightly warped a touch ? & a quicker turn around job too ! I have gaskets here if needed ?
Cheers Malcolm 01823 350360



"Keeping the Commer Alive & kicking" !
 
IMHO its v.unlikely to be cracked. And you would only need to get it skimmed if its banana'd. Test for bananaing by cleaning all the carbon off, coating with thin layer black grease (grease & ink mixed up or water pump grease which is red) and putting on a mirror. Any missing grease and its bananad. Much cheaper than a sonic/laser test and nearly as accurate - never failed me (yet:)). Then new gasket if OK & skimming if not.

Cheers
Jules

RatSport www.ratsport.co.uk
 
Thanks Jules.

Gonna take head off this w/e, need to get on with it if I am gonna make it to the next meet.

Before, I do though, how do I know the head gasket has definitely blown? I decided it had, cos the exhaust was belching out heavy white smoke, the rad was very low on water, and when refilled it was bubbling nicely when i took the cap off, particularly when dipping the excelerator pedal....does this sound like it has blown??

Anyone?
 
Its sometimes hard to determine if the gasket has gone without tools such as coolant system pressure tester or block tester tool

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/UNIVERSAL-BLOCK-TESTER-KIT-FOR-GASKETS-CYLNDER-HEADS_W0QQitemZ140270607977QQcmdZViewItem?hash=item140270607977&_trkparms=72%3A1301|39%3A1|66%3A2|65%3A12|240%3A1318&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14

White smoke is indicative of gasket failure but not always so.Evidence of oil in water, or vice versa by checking dipstick might show signs.Mayo in the engine can be down to gradual wear but is attributed to gasket failure generally.

:D
 
sounds very much like the water system is over pressurising, which would be head gasket or if really unlucky a cracked head/block [xx(]

"you were only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off no.3"
 
i thought that one of the tell tale signs was that you would have oil in the water and white foamy crap that looks like a froth on top of the water in the rad.;)
 
its not always the case woolfy, it all depends on where the gasket has blown ;)

"you were only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off no.3"
 
Right Boys and Girls,

I finally got around to it and have got the head off ok. Will clean it down and do the 'mirror' test someone(? - Commeracer) suggested.
Does anyone else have any tips for me to consider before I get on with putting her back together? For example, are the head gaskets from Speedies ok? - I have one here ready to go, but is it any good

Any quick replies would be appreciated, although I expect you're all bus at work!?

Cheers, Ray
 
hello razor am at work but can still play:D for the hassle of removing the head again i would get an engineer to test the flatness and skim as necersary, then refit head. if the gasket you have has the copper coatings both sides then thats a good one. hope that helps. hope the families well[?]
 
Thanks Charlie, think I will get it skimmed anyway, as there is some pitted areas around the cylinder that appears to have failed. The gasket it i has is just one from Speedies....but not copper coated(?) just metal (alloy?) one side and grey gasket material the other?? - comments anyone?

Will get the head skimmed tomorrow hopefully.

All ok here...thanks for asking, baby no.2 - 'Erin' doing well. 3 months old now.
 
Right got the head off, skimmed etc. but does anyone know the correct/best way of getting head back on? - the end valve spring catches the engine bay body and does not easily go back in?! - any ideas or do i just MAKE it fit in...in other words the valve stops the head from sliding back under engine bay and dropping back onto the head bolts.

Any suggestions appreciated before I do anything

Cheers Ray
 
It was a while ago but I took the head off with the engine in place and seem to remember having similar problems. Is there any way you can lift the front of the engine with a jack - this might push the back down.
Or take the offending stud out and screw it back in place once the head is on.

'Harvey the RV'
 
jack idea sounds like it might yield a few mm's, but the stud is fixed solid.

going out there now to give it another 'wiggle'

Thanks Panky
 
it came off so it will go back on, i had this trouble with sybhil, i dinged the body a bit and levered down on the g/box and it went in [^]. do mind your fingers as well, its a good idea to put something on top of the block so as the head cant crush fingers :I.
torque it down evenly and after its settled re-do it again when its hot,leave it for a day to cool and reset the tappets. as cast iron heads are hot torqued ;)

"you were only supposed to blow the bloody SLIDING doors off no.3"
 
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