Head gasket

[MartynFryer]

Hi guys and gals,

Any ideas.............

My MkII Tv8 mod overheated without warning last week. I managed to stop ASAP after the gauge hit the red, recovered by RAC.

Have replaced cooling hoses and thermostat and fitted leccy fan and header tank (one of Stagwebbers).

Couldn't get the float/sender on the header tank to seal - maybe too much pressure in cooling system ????

Removed the float/sender and tried to blank using metal off cut and fixed with metal bonding adhesive. This blew off after 5 miles!!! (adhesive was properly cured)!

Fitted another (Ford) header tank, which seems ok but again pressure seems VERY high - water leaving overflow by cap at some pace.

Also although engine starts well and sounds superb after the engine had got up to running temp there was a rattle, replaced by a whine from the front of the offside head ( timing chain area).

There's still no oil in the coolant nor water on the plugs.

Utterly confused of Twickenham

(Mart)

PS. Sorry about the length of the post !

[GDPR]

Get your paws on a block tester, and sniff the coolant - sounds like combustion gas/pressure is getting into the cooling system.....

Get your tools out, looks like you are pulling some heads off if the feeling in my water is correct... and you might want to order some chains while you are at it as well - a whine is never good news....

[staginhiding]

The electric fan is only ever a back up.The header is a good idea anyway.The hoses and thermo as a matter of course if uncertain
All that said if you have a pressure problem, that wont go away whatever extra cooloing devices you add

[Andy Rundell]

Get your paws on a block tester, and sniff the coolant - sounds like combustion gas/pressure is getting into the cooling system.....

Your problem is the pressure and where it is coming from....... Do as Russ as mentioned, confirm your HGF and time to get the spanners out

........ Andy

[martin]

Hi Martyn, obviously Russ is right, one little tip, take the car to a friendly local garage, they can test for combustion gasses with the exhaust analyser probe, local folk have been doing it for me on numerous cars for years. Thank God, not yet the Stag. Martin.

[GDPR]

Been having your exhaust probed by other people regularly eh?

[martin]

Been having your exhaust probed by other people regularly eh?

I am disappointed Russ, you can't keep a confidence can you !

[KOY 23]

I am disappointed Russ, you can't keep a confidence can you !

Bu**ered if he can.

[Staggard]

Get your paws on a block tester, and sniff the coolant - sounds like combustion gas/pressure is getting into the cooling system.....

Get your tools out, looks like you are pulling some heads off if the feeling in my water is correct... and you might want to order some chains while you are at it as well - a whine is never good news....

I'ts OK if red or white

[GDPR]

Take off those rose coloured specs Graham..........

I'll get me coat...

[MartynFryer]

Just thinking ........

I reckon I could get the gaskets changed by myself with the skill and experience levels I have UNLESS something doesn't go right - stud problems, something unexpected. In other words if it all went by the book I would be fine.

My questions are............ given the above - how likely is it that it will all go smoothly on a 74 Tv8? AND therefore am I better off going to a specialist and getting them to do the head gasket? AND what sort of price would I expect to be paying for a gasket change?

Thanks in anticipation of your answers

Mart

[Andy Rundell]

Will it all go smoothly? - the answer is, it depends how recently the heads have been off the car, and how much patience/skill you have. In my view something will always surprise you during any piece of work, whether it be motor mechanics or diy! (or perhaps thats just me being unlucky )

No idea how much it would cost to have a professional do the job, however, you are only 5/6 miles from N&P motors who advertise in the mag - why not give them a call and ask for some price-guidance and then make your own choice - Russ may have a view on the length of time he'd allocate to the task.

.......... Andy

[GDPR]

In my experience, if all goes well, head gaskets should take about 6 hours for the pair, plus whatever time for stuck studs, and any extra remedial work to the heads themselves. It would be wise to do the chains at the same time, so add about 3 hours for chain, guide and sprocket changes.

Not sure about Andy's recommendation about that Heathrow company, ask Raj how he was treated with his Dolly Sprint first, and I'll tell you what I had to put right after...... including the back axle about to go different directions to the car.....

Russ

[Andy Rundell]

Not sure about Andy's recommendation about that Heathrow company, ask Raj how he was treated with his Dolly Sprint first, and I'll tell you what I had to put right after......

Russ

just to be clear, i was careful not to recommend them to do the work, but for the price of a quick phone-call they'd give a benchmark price

.......... Andy

[GDPR]

Point taken Andy..... sorry.

They are one of the reasons I got more work to do..... so in hindsight, I should thank them