Head gasket repairs on a road trip

[Rubce]

Hi All

On the Club Triumph Forum there is a chap planning a road trip to Italy in his Spitfire. One of the spare parts that people are telling him to take is a replacement head gasket. Can you imagine doing such a repair on a Stag whilst on a road trip?!

Regards

Bruce

[jleyton]

Probably not, but many years ago I had a Dolly Sprint as a company car. At 800 miles, it cooked it's head which had to be replaced (luckily I was working in a Triumph dealership at the time so that was all done in a morning)

However, I was driving to Germany on holiday the following week so I actually borrowed a spare cylinder head and gasket from our parts department for my trip to be on the safe side. Fortunately, it wasn't needed

Cheers

Julian

[grumpy2]

Easily!

Gary

[bunny]

Easily!

Gary

Its that easy now is it Gary
vince

[MLCstag]

Just need to pack a bottle of wine, two glasses and two deck chairs to wait for the recovery truck - much easier.

[38rover]

I can remember in the seventies going to Spain in my 2.5 Triumph PI and you could hire a touring breakdown kit it contained a wealth of spares including a head gasket valves etc if the parcel was un opened you got about 90% of your money back or paid for any parts used this was an official Triumph deal but luckily never opened my box,

[DJT]

I can remember in the seventies going to Spain in my 2.5 Triumph PI and you could hire a touring breakdown kit it contained a wealth of spares including a head gasket valves etc if the parcel was un opened you got about 90% of your money back or paid for any parts used this was an official Triumph deal but luckily never opened my box,

These were quite popular in the 60s too. I can remember my Father getting one for his Austin A40 Somerset when we went to Venice in it in 67.

[KOY 23]

Hi All

On the Club Triumph Forum there is a chap planning a road trip to Italy in his Spitfire. One of the spare parts that people are telling him to take is a replacement head gasket. Can you imagine doing such a repair on a Stag whilst on a road trip?!

Regards

Bruce

Bruce.

I think the point is that many garages could fit your parts immediately, saves having to wait for delivery.

[Rubce]

Bruce.

I think the point is that many garages could fit your parts immediately, saves having to wait for delivery.

hmmm, with the four and six pot engines, people have been replacing the head gaskets in hotel carparks etc! Can't see many garages taking on a stag head gasket job as an emergency given their reputation even if you did have the parts with you. Try explaining the rope trick etc.

cheers

Bruce

[ChasR]

Indeedy.

Another thing to bear in mind is that the later Spitfire (especially the home market 1500s) were not known for being the best cars for staying cool! Many a 1500 owner fits the larger Mk1 radiator which the US 1500 Spitfires came with (they are almost twice the width of a stock radiator, although BL probably went for the smaller version the UK cars to save money!).

[jleyton]

Yep, I wouldn't worry about doing a Spitfire head gasket in a hotel car park, but a Stag ? Mmmmm - I guess if I could be sure the head would come off easily, then it would be ok..

Cheers

Julian