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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Small Bore Head Gasket

Hi Guys
Time to pull head off the Frog, which I haven't done for years. I've always used Copper / Asbestos Head Gaskets in the past either Payen or Unipart AF070 from memory. But I've read that Payen changed their C/Asbestos formula (elf n safety) ??
So can any of you guys recommend which is the best COPPER gasket to use. Payen , Minispares etc, etc
Car is moderate tune small bore 948 with ported 850 mini head, LCB etc.

Cheers Ed
Ed H

Hi Ed
I see your enquiry is specifica to small bore 948 and Copper.
As no one has yet answered and I have a 948 in my Frogeye and the gaskets are made in Aus consider this.
A modern black head gasket that only needs fitting and torquing. No retorquing required.
Advertised by Minispares as a competition head gasket.

see www.acl.com.au
Part No: AP250MT
T:(07)36550700 they are located Eagle Farm QLD4009

Alan
www.masckent.org
Alan Anstead

How does one know that a gasket does, or doesn't need retorquing? I've just bought a Payen BK450. There are no instructions about torquing or re-torquing. I found a payen catalogue online, and it says, --

"Where a retorque is recommended run the engine for 20 minutes. (Engines with aluminium cylinder heads should be allowed to cool to room temperature prior to a retorque)."

But it doesn't mention specifically any of their gaskets.
Lawrence Slater

Lawrence
I have a modern gasket on my Sebring rep and was surprised to find that it didn't need retorquing when I suspect most of us of a certain age are used to retorquing copper gaskets.
The AP250MT for my Frogeye came with an instruction sheet.
" ACL Monotorque head gaskets are a single torque gasket and as such do not require a retorque. Monotorque gaskets are silicone coated and no additional sealants should be used ".
I cannot comment on Payen.
Alan
Alan Anstead

Thanks Alan. Yup I'm old school that's for sure. LOL. Not completely stubborn though. :).

I found this on the Federal Mogul site.
Cylinder Head Gasket Installation. Federal-Mogul Document #1425

http://tinyurl.com/nuh3jvh

"No-retorque head gaskets are now common and desirable. However, depending on the brand or design, many gaskets for import vehicles, as well as older designs, require the cylinder head to be retorqued. Retorque-type gaskets take a set after initial engine operation and relax to the point where retorquing is needed to restore proper clamping force. In the long run, the extra labor and expense of using a retorque cylinder head gasket makes the repair more expensive than using a no-retorque design."

But I can't find anything that says if any Payen hg's are torque or no-retorque, but they seem to be suggesting that they aren't.
Lawrence Slater

Alan

Thanks for the advice, will look into an ACL gasket although the company is in administration at present so supply may be thin.............

Ed
Ed H

Hi Ed
I got mine from Minispares. (UK)
Alan
Alan Anstead

How is all this talk going down with out a peep from Prop? :-)
Steven Devine

Schhhhhhhhh an insomniac & maniac free thread.
Alan
Alan Anstead

"How is all this talk going down with out a peep from Prop? :-)"

Just mention wheel bearings ....................

Ed
Ed H

This thread was discussed between 31/01/2014 and 05/02/2014

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