On Tue, 16 Aug 1994, Bill Yarborough wrote:
> I'm in the process of rebuilding the engine for my 1961 Morgan +4, and
> seem to be getting alot of conflicting "advice" concerning the proper
> treatment of gaskets. I have a complete new set of gaskets. The head
> gasket is copper and the others are paper or cork (some of each). What
> (if anything) should they be coated with? (BTW, it's a TR3 engine, if
> that matters.)
In an ideal world where all mating surfaces are absolutely perfect, you
wouldn't need gasket goo of any kind. In fact, you wouldn't even need
gaskets. Unfortunateely, that ideal situation doesn't exist in the world
of mass production. You do need gaskets, and you should use some kind of
gasket goo on almost all of them.
My personal favorite for many years has been Permatex #3 Aviation Gasket
Cement. It never hardens completely, seals well, and is suitable for
everything on the Triumph 4 banger (and most other BritCar engines) except
the head gasket. That's just my personal preference. Most any of the
gasket cements you'll find in better auto supply stores will do the job.
The one kind to avoid is the hardening shellac-based type (Permatex #1,
Indian Head, etc.). I use this type only when I have a gasket that just
won't stay in place otherwise.
Some people like to use cement on head gaskets, too, but I don't. In my
own experience a cemented head gasket is more likely to blow out than one
installed dry. Your mileage may vary. If the head gasket won't seal,
then you need to resurface the head and block, not goo up the gasket.
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Chip Old 1948 M.G. TC TC6710 NEMGTR #2271
feold@umd5.umd.edu 1962 Triumph TR4 CT3154LO (daily transportation)
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