The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Here is the photo evidence of just why some sprint head gaskets are better than others.

Below are the last two gaskets that have failed, after I have to admit, is serious abuse by my driving, so are unlikely to fail in normal usage but are useless when the car is driven at max rpm. The picture also shows a new Payen gasket I obtained from Robsport even before the first track day because I just knew the head would fail.
The breach is between No 4 pot and the water jacket in both cases.


This picture shows the No 1 pot is beginning to fail.



These next two pictures shom the difference between a crap gasket and a good one. It is clear that the metal is thickier and better located on the Payen one and also has a ridge running right round the bore top, also the Payen has complete metall between bores on both sides compared with the thin folded over metal on the cheapie.








In conclusion I would not contemplate using the cheapie ever again as its design and manufacture are clearly inferior and until I compared the two types together, I was not aware of WHY the Payen type is better.
I would also suggest that perhaps machining a very shallow (.05mm deep x 2mm wide) groove just outside the bore area into the head would trap the gasket and make it much harder to blow.
What are your opinions guys...............or girls!

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track action maniac.

The lunatic is out................heres Jonny!

Jon, are you sure that's a Payen gasket you bought from Robsport ? If you have a spare block and a couple of head studs, fit the gasket to the block and check how everything lines up, especially the fire rings.

I blame the driver myself Seriously Jon what a difference in the gaskets, however, blowing in the same spot twice in a row, how true is the head. Almost ashamed to ask an engineer that....

Had a well known racer here before I removed head, he predicted the exact position of the failure without even seeing it!
The real clincher Richard is the fact that both the failed gaskets are from different blocks and heads. (my original block had cracked and the latest head was skimmed by myself and is flat)
It is the weakest part of the engine/head seal as it is the largest water passage and at the top where the angled (weakest)studs are.

So it was supposed to be a Payen if it is not then what is it please?
It looks good quality but is there better?

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track action maniac.

The lunatic is out................heres Jonny!

That are the same that i bought by rimmer. These are payen but have no payen mark on them. The gasket material and the rings are payen for sure.

Jeroen Rothman

See...knew I shouldn't have asked

The 'good quality' gasket is the very same one I got off eBay in the top end set when I did my headgasket.

Aw dont be embarassed you and I have had long chats about all engines as we are both knowledgable on many other engines, not just this slanty weak one
Why did I not know years ago which ones are best and how to spot the difference ?

Thanks lads for the info I will fit it with confidence.

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track action maniac.

The lunatic is out................heres Jonny!

'Elring' were always talked about by Sprintspares. Rimmers had a sale many years ago and they were selling Elring gaskets at £9 each; I used my last one on the Quicksprint's engine. Are they still made? There is one on CAB which I used to use hard and daily...

Elring is a German gasketfactory and still excists but does not produce the Sprint gaskets anymore for 15-20 years. These were the OE gaskets Triumph used. All the Elrings you can find are old stock. These are good quality but I think the modern Payen is better. The material of the modern Payen is better than an Elring of 20 years old.

Jeroen Rothman

It only just occurs that I had to idea of varying gasket designs when I did mine a couple of months back. I got it from Robsport though so maybe it's the prfered type

Same as mine

In conclusion I think we all need to be aware that there are many cheap imitations of all sorts of parts and while these may be good enough for a "garage" potato car or one that just potters about they are not suitable for cars that are going to be used to their limits.

I rejected a whole set of hoses from Rimmers due to the fact that they were substandard for ANY car as they had no fabric in them and blew up like balloons , in fact my bottom hose is from a scrapyard BMW.

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track action maniac.

The lunatic is out................heres Jonny!

How about a copper gasket
http://www.ferriday.co.uk/copper/copper.shtml

Some of them don't. Those are reinforced ones with the partnumberwrap still on it

At my work i have a Gates catalogue with all the hoses they have. There are pictures of the hose and the lenght and dia. Very usefull of finding hoses for a car. Also the heaterhoses with various curves are in it. They must have these catalogues in the UK also.

Jeroen