I suggest that you make absolutely 100% certain that the head gasket has gone before you go to the trouble of changing it. It is potentially an absolute nightmare of a job (I dread the day I'll have to do this job on my 1850) due to the angled studs and the fact that they can be almost impossible to get out. A compression test is the best place to start. Give the car a good shakedown before you condemn the head gasket. Flush the entire cooling system, replace the thermostat, replace the temperature sender, replace the expansion cap, replace the hoses and refill with fresh coolant with the correct strength of Bluecol (or equivalent) antifreeze (30-40%).
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Toledo Man
West Yorkshire Area Organiser & forum moderator
Meetings take place on the first Wednesday of the month at 8.00pm at The Old Brickworks, Wakefield Road, Drighlington, Bradford, BD11 1EA
1972 Dolomite 1850 auto (NYE 751L - Now for sale)
2003 Volvo XC90 D5 SE (PX53 OVZ - The daily driver)
2009 Mercedes-Benz W204 C200 CDI Sport (BJ58 NCV - The 2nd car)
1991 Toyota Celica GT (J481 ONB - another project car)
Former stable of SAY 414M (1974 Toledo), GRH 244D (1966 1300fwd), CDB 324L (1973 1500fwd), GGN 573J (1971 1500fwd), DCP 625S (1977 Dolomite 1300) & LCG 367N (1975 Dolomite Sprint) plus 5 Acclaims and that's just the Triumphs!
Check my blog at
http://triumphtoledo.blogspot.com
My
YouTube Channel with a bit of Dolomite content.
"There is only one way to avoid criticsm: Do nothing, say nothing and BE nothing." Aristotle