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Re: [Healeys] Head Gasket Woes Part Three

To: john harper <ah100tech@gmail.com>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Head Gasket Woes Part Three
From: WILLIAM B LAWRENCE <ynotink@msn.com>
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2022 18:57:54 +0000
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Cc: Steven Kingsbury via Healeys <healeys@autox.team.net>, Steven Kingsbury <airtightproductions@me.com>
Delivered-to: mharc@autox.team.net
Delivered-to: healeys@autox.team.net
References: <97ce4578-639a-4f54-8f60-b350f8e0e1d4@me.com> <CY4PR13MB1063BEA171C1FE0038590B54A53C9@CY4PR13MB1063.namprd13.prod.outlook.com> <CAL28cLXnCXqgaAOTYWFg5grm-R5GvHU4C1Rp+smEUmm_VzPZ1A@mail.gmail.com>
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Thread-topic: [Healeys] Head Gasket Woes Part Three
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Correction: tried =3D trued.

________________________________
From: john harper <ah100tech@gmail.com>
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 5:24 PM
To: WILLIAM B LAWRENCE <ynotink@msn.com>
Cc: Steven Kingsbury via Healeys <healeys@autox.team.net>; Steven Kingsbury=
 <airtightproductions@me.com>
Subject: Re: [Healeys] Head Gasket Woes Part Three

Steve

You say that you had distributor problems. Could it be that you ran the eng=
ine with the distributor over advanced? It is possible that you had pre-ign=
ition or knocking. If over advanced then the pressure on the pistons can be=
 very high before 'over top dead centre'. This might put more pressure on t=
he head gasket than expected.

The flame front temperature must have been very high to burn away a groove =
in the head.

Best regards

On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 at 17:02, WILLIAM B LAWRENCE via Healeys <healeys@autox=

I had a bunch of trouble with head gaskets before my last rebuild. It occur=
red to me that the laminated copper gaskets I was using had an area of over=
lap in the combustion chamber that exposes the thin copper to erosion by ho=
t combustion gases. My theory is that the copper burns away and exposes the=
 asbestos core which is then gradually burned out until the gasket fails ca=
tastrophically. I used a solid copper gasket for a time with good results, =
but couldn=92t get it to seal between the oil and water systems. At the las=
t rebuild I installed the Denis Welch competition gasket and had both surfa=
ces tried and finished. The results have been great.
________________________________
team.net>> on behalf of Steven Kingsbury via Healeys <healeys@autox.team.ne=
Sent: Wednesday, February 23, 2022 4:34 PM
>
Subject: [Healeys] Head Gasket Woes Part Three

Let me start with a little history with this email. My engine has just a sh=
ade under 3,000 miles on it since rebuild. The head was checked for cracks,=
 none found and was ever so slightly shaved to make sure it was completely =
flat. The machine shop I use builds race engines and they do really good, r=
eliable work.
Then the block was gone through, new sleeves inserted and bored so to fit m=
y new pistons. Again the top of the block was checked and double checked to=
 make sure it was flat and mated to the head.
When I fired this engine up for the first time after rebuild, she lept to l=
ife! No turning it over and over and over. She fired right up. I was quite =
pleased.
I ran the engine for about twenty minutes at 2,000 RPM, never got above 180=
 degrees and then took her out on the road. I took care not to over rev, an=
d drove up a long hill in third gear at low RPM to help set the rings.
I did have some problems with the distributor, but that was fixed and at fi=
fty miles I checked the head again for torque. I drove the car more and ret=
orqued the head again at 150 miles, all was fine.
I checked again at 500 miles and again at 1500 miles. All was fine.
Anyway, this history is to let you know I think I did everything I could an=
d did everything overly cautious to break this engine in correctly. And thi=
s engine was running great! My car was a joy to drive and loved cruising do=
wn the freeway at 80 mph! Seventy was a sweet spot and was a joy to drive.
I'm now thinking of going with the aluminum head thanks to the combined wis=
dom of this list. Aluminum head with the steel gasket. I've heard nothing b=
ut good news about them and I don't want to have that worry/doubt while dri=
ving down the road. I am also going to continue down the path of fixing thi=
s head as I think it's worth it in the long run.
I want to thank all of those sending in suggestions and tips and cautionary=
 tales and things to look for and all of the views have led me to believe, =
bite the bullet and spend the money.
Thank you all and I will report back!
Steven Kingsbury
BN1
_______________________________________________

Archive: http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys http://autox.team.net/archiv=
e/healeys

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<head>
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<div>Correction: tried =3D trued.</div>
<br>
<hr style=3D"display:inline-block;width:98%" tabindex=3D"-1">
<div id=3D"divRplyFwdMsg" dir=3D"ltr"><font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" st=
yle=3D"font-size:11pt" color=3D"#000000"><b>From:</b> john harper &lt;ah100=
tech@gmail.com&gt;<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 23, 2022 5:24 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> WILLIAM B LAWRENCE &lt;ynotink@msn.com&gt;<br>
<b>Cc:</b> Steven Kingsbury via Healeys &lt;healeys@autox.team.net&gt;; Ste=
ven Kingsbury &lt;airtightproductions@me.com&gt;<br>
<b>Subject:</b> Re: [Healeys] Head Gasket Woes Part Three</font>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div>
<div dir=3D"ltr">Steve
<div><br>
</div>
<div>You say that you had distributor problems. Could it be that you ran th=
e engine with the distributor over advanced? It is possible that you had pr=
e-ignition or knocking. If over advanced then the pressure on the pistons c=
an be very high before 'over top
 dead centre'. This might put more pressure on the head gasket than expecte=
d.&nbsp;</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>The flame front temperature must have been very high to burn away a gr=
oove in the head.</div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div>Best regards</div>
</div>
<br>
<div class=3D"x_gmail_quote">
<div dir=3D"ltr" class=3D"x_gmail_attr">On Wed, 23 Feb 2022 at 17:02, WILLI=
AM B LAWRENCE via Healeys &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:healeys@autox.team.net"; tar=
get=3D"_blank">healeys@autox.team.net</a>&gt; wrote:<br>
</div>
<blockquote class=3D"x_gmail_quote" style=3D"margin:0px 0px 0px 0.8ex; bord=
er-left:1px solid rgb(204,204,204); padding-left:1ex">
<div>
<div><br>
</div>
<div style=3D"font-family:inherit; font-size:inherit; color:inherit">I had =
a bunch of trouble with head gaskets before my last rebuild. It occurred to=
 me that the laminated copper gaskets I was using had an area of overlap in=
 the combustion chamber that exposes
 the thin copper to erosion by hot combustion gases. My theory is that the =
copper burns away and exposes the asbestos core which is then gradually bur=
ned out until the gasket fails catastrophically. I used a solid copper gask=
et for a time with good results,
 but couldn=92t get it to seal between the oil and water systems. At the la=
st rebuild I installed the Denis Welch competition gasket and had both surf=
aces tried and finished. The results have been great.</div>
<hr style=3D"display:inline-block; width:98%">
<div id=3D"x_gmail-m_-1862912613001579303gmail-m_4276805459596938814divRply=
FwdMsg" dir=3D"ltr">
<font face=3D"Calibri, sans-serif" color=3D"#000000" style=3D"font-size:11p=
t"><b>From:</b> Healeys &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:healeys-bounces@autox.team.ne=
t" target=3D"_blank">healeys-bounces@autox.team.net</a>&gt; on behalf of St=
even Kingsbury via Healeys &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:healeys@autox.team.net"; ta=
rget=3D"_blank">healeys@autox.team.net</a>&gt;<br>
<b>Sent:</b> Wednesday, February 23, 2022 4:34 PM<br>
<b>To:</b> Healey Mail List &lt;<a href=3D"mailto:healeys@autox.team.net"; t=
arget=3D"_blank">healeys@autox.team.net</a>&gt;<br>
<b>Subject:</b> [Healeys] Head Gasket Woes Part Three</font>
<div>&nbsp;</div>
</div>
<div>
<div>Let me start with a little history with this email. My engine has just=
 a shade under 3,000 miles on it since rebuild. The head was checked for cr=
acks, none found and was ever so slightly shaved to make sure it was comple=
tely flat. The machine shop I use
 builds race engines and they do really good, reliable work.<br>
</div>
<div>Then the block was gone through, new sleeves inserted and bored so to =
fit my new pistons. Again the top of the block was checked and double check=
ed to make sure it was flat and mated to the head.<br>
</div>
<div>When I fired this engine up for the first time after rebuild, she lept=
 to life! No turning it over and over and over. She fired right up. I was q=
uite pleased.
<br>
</div>
<div>I ran the engine for about twenty minutes at 2,000 RPM, never got abov=
e 180 degrees and then took her out on the road. I took care not to over re=
v, and drove up a long hill in third gear at low RPM to help set the rings.=
&nbsp;<br>
</div>
<div>I did have some problems with the distributor, but that was fixed and =
at fifty miles I checked the head again for torque. I drove the car more an=
d retorqued the head again at 150 miles, all was fine.<br>
</div>
<div>I checked again at 500 miles and again at 1500 miles. All was fine.&nb=
sp;<br>
</div>
<div>Anyway, this history is to let you know I think I did everything I cou=
ld and did everything overly cautious to break this engine in correctly. An=
d this engine was running great! My car was a joy to drive and loved cruisi=
ng down the freeway at 80 mph! Seventy
 was a sweet spot and was a joy to drive. <br>
</div>
<div>I'm now thinking of going with the aluminum head thanks to the combine=
d wisdom of this list. Aluminum head with the steel gasket. I've heard noth=
ing but good news about them and I don't want to have that worry/doubt whil=
e driving down the road. I am also
 going to continue down the path of fixing this head as I think it's worth =
it in the long run.&nbsp;<br>
</div>
<div>I want to thank all of those sending in suggestions and tips and cauti=
onary tales and things to look for and all of the views have led me to beli=
eve, bite the bullet and spend the money.<br>
</div>
<div>Thank you all and I will report back!<br>
</div>
<div>Steven Kingsbury<br>
</div>
<div>BN1&nbsp;<br>
</div>
</div>
</div>
_______________________________________________<br>
rer" target=3D"_blank">
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Archive: <a href=3D"http://www.team.net/pipermail/healeys"; rel=3D"noreferre=
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archive/healeys" rel=3D"noreferrer" target=3D"_blank">
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eam.net</a><br>
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