MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Recommendations

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG TD TF 1500 - generic gasket questions

Any reason that we should not make our own gaskets using gasket material for most gaskets? I'm going to need to replace the oil pump gasket and the water pump gaskets. The engine pan gasket and the timing cover gaskets I will buy because they are too big to use gasket material to make.
Regarding the copper head gasket, I'm going to decoke my head but expect to reuse all parts as there is nothing wrong with any of it, can I just reuse the copper gasket?
Thanks!
Geoffrey M Baker

Copper head gaskets are reusable providing you anneal them first. if you are just going to "decoke" the head might I suggest a squirt can of atf down the carbs while it is running above idle. Its an old trick we used at auto dismantlers to clean up combustion chambers. Go somewhere open and remote though as your neighbors wont appreciate the sudden momentary smoke screen
W. A. Chasser Jr

GOEFF,
IMHO, it would NOT be a good idea to reuse the head gasket,,it's made to "for lack of a better word "squish", DON"T DO IT, ,,, unless you like replacing it again!!!
Steve Wincze

I wouldn't re-use a head gasket. The $50 you spend on a new one will be quickly forgotten. A ride home on the truck of shame will haunt you forever. It's cheap piece of mind, and good practice.
Steve S

Aircraft sparkplug washers are routinely annealed and reused, so why not a whole head gasket assuming you have large enough torch and don't mind a little suspense in your life whenever you drive out of sight of home?

The proper way I was taught to do it was to heat the whole washer red hot, then drop in sideways into a bucket of water. Apparently slipping in sideways yields better grain patterns that if you belly flop in in flat. Or something like that.
kylemorley

Unless you have a custom made solid copper headgasket, they are made from two layers of metal, and some have composition material between the layers, which compresses exactly one time. The other gaskets are really cheap, nicely die cut, etc. Likely much better than anything you can make. Just my thoughts. George
George Butz

Annealing a copper head gasket should be done under controlled conditions where as the whole gasket gets the exact heat applied with no cold spots! Using a torch to try to anneal one is a waste of time. I know, they have been reused before, but as said previously, if you like possibly pulling the head again, go for it! The cost to have it re annealed is more than a new one! Why copper anyway, their only needed for super high compression engines running blowers and nitro! If it was mine, I'd hang the copper one on the wall and put a new regular gasket on it. PJ
Paul S Jennings

PJ,
Are you saying that you have a non copper head gasket ????? Just what do you consider a "regular" (head) gasket ?????

SPW
Steve Wincze

I'll buy a new copper gasket. I already have Tom Lange's great silicone top gasket, and I'll use paper gasket material elsewhere where I can. I have plenty of it, I just wanted to know if the precut gaskets were in any way superior to what you can do yourself.
Geoffrey M Baker

Nothing wrong with making your own gaskets. It just takes longer, and the finish fit may not look as precise.

My vote is for a new composite gasket. I've never blown one or suffered any leaks.
Steve S

Geoffrey, do you know the locations where cork is appropriate? Where paper is proper? Thickness of each? Regards, Tom
tm peterson

I'm now leaning towards just getting the Moss engine set. After adding up the cost for the bottom gaskets (timing and sump) the copper head gasket and a few others, it seems not worth the trouble to try to price them individually and make my own where I can...
Geoffrey M Baker

That is the same conclusion I reached. Regards, tom
tm peterson

PJ,
I'm still interested in your comment about not using copper head gaskets,,, what kind do you use ?????
Steve
Steve Wincze

Well, for one, how about Cometic gaskets. Layered coated stainless, not copper. Summit Racing used to sell them, I think they still do.
Paul S Jennings

I forgot to add, they will even make custom gaskets for you, just give them the specs.
Paul S Jennings

But is that Cometec referenced by your comment
>>I'd hang the copper one on the wall and put a new regular gasket on it.<<
Cometic doesn't seem like a "regular" head gasket,,,
SPW
Steve Wincze

OK.
Paul S Jennings

This thread was discussed between 18/03/2015 and 20/03/2015

MG TD TF 1500 index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG TD TF 1500 BBS now