Early 1850 Head Bolts...long or short?

[Dolly-Dimple]

Hi All,

Hope we are well?

Can anyone please advise if my 1973 1850's head bolts are the long or short variety?

Long:

Rimmer Part: UKC9871

Short:

Rimmer Part: 144762

Set:

Rimmer Part: RB7236

Thanks in advance

Kind Regards

Russell.

[tony g]

I think they have 3 long AND 2 short. Also 5 studs and nuts

HTH

Tony

[Dolly-Dimple]

Ahhh i see many thanks Tony...i guess thats why they list both for the 1850! All becomes clear Sincere thanks

[xvivalve]

Tony is spot on, but why on earth are you considering buying these? Is there a problem with your head? If not, leave it alone!

[Henk]

Read some horror stories about removing them, so the above advise seems wise.
I recently removed the head for some work (higher CR, flowed oil and water galleries) and the studs came out like a dream, no hassle at all. All nuts came loose, second nut tightened on top and out came the stud!

[MIG Wielder]

If you are thinking of taking your 1850 head off this may help.
https://dollywiki.co.uk/wiki/Dolomite_1 ... ad_removal
Tony.

[Dolly-Dimple]

Thanks all much appreciated. My Hg is away yes so the car is currently away having its entire cooling system replaced: head skimmed with new gasket, new water pump, new radiator, new hoses, new temp sender, new thermostat, new expansion tank cap, system flush and all fluids and filters replaced, new fuel pump too: at least then ill know exactly where the cooling system is. Kind Regards Russell

[xvivalve]

Has the head been proven to need a skim? In my opinion too many places do it just because...

Also, be wary of 'new' water pumps; your existing one can be reconditioned far cheaper and is 'matched' to your jackshaft. Some new waterpumps were put on the market in the 1990s which had insufficient case hardening to the gears and some still crop up from time to time.

[Dolly-Dimple]

Many thanks for that, yes the garage i use i have known for years: friends of the family etc so they are genuine thats for sure. I really appreciate that about the matching i hadnt considered that, hmm it may be more advisable to recondition rather than replace? I was just going to order one from Rimmers but if theres a risk it was one of that batch...

Kind Regards

Russell

[Triumph1300]

Why are you changing all of this?

Have you got problems?

[Dolly-Dimple]

Hi there, the car was overheating yes so im having it all replaced so ill know exactly where the car is cooling system wise, im keeping the car so instead of replacing bits here and there i just want the lot done in one go. hope you are well. Kind Regards Russell

[xvivalve]

The car could be over heating through binding brakes, particularly if it had been laid up for a while.

Was it losing coolant? Who told you it was the HG? Someone who sees Dolomite and assumes head trouble?

You have a lot of experience available to you through this board, as a new owner you really should canvass opinion before shelling out loads of cash. The danger with replacing multiple items at one go is you may not actually cure the problem, but if you do, you will have no idea what caused it or may cause it to re-occur.

Friends of family do not guarantee anything in my experience...

New water pump from Rimmers, £200+; new seal kit from Hart Racing Services £20. But again, if the pump isn't leaking, why touch it???

A growing problem with 'new' parts is they are aftermarket copies and are crap. If it isn't broken, you are wise to leave it alone.

[Dolly-Dimple]

Hi there, many thanks for the reply. I agree with you and understand,respect and value your views, and appreciate deeply the knowledge and forthcoming future help from all members: i just feel its right for the car at this point in its life: the cars temperature on a run was rising steadily and the air movement when the car was in motion was not doing anything to cool it down, it was indeed loosing coolant on each run due to over presurising and it was coming out the expansion oveflow, there was also an oil leak from the head area, mayonaise under the oil cap and brown mix in the expansion tank. The hoses were perished, radiator was far from its first flush of youth and the whole system smacked of one that hadnt been maintained of late, for peace of minds sake i want the entire system renewed so we know where we are. The garage is excelent not only a family friend but a fellow classic car owner (chap has restored his Jensen Interceptor from the ground up) he confirms the HG is away. The car had no thermostat present so its been run for long enough wothout one by the look of it to try and run it as cool as possible to try and skirt round the issue. I personally didnt want to have to take it back and forth several times before we get to the bottom of things, at least we will know where we are this way: i only can hope that replacement components are up to it...but in the case of the hoses and radiator (and headgasket) it can only be an improvement. Because its myself, a friend, i am getting half price labour so im quite happy. Ive had classics for the past 17 years (albeit new to the Dolomite i have had a Spit and a Stag previously), so usually like to get them up to my standard and i want to keep a hold of the Dolly as i love it: first step for me is get it running right then plan to have the car stripped for painting and detailing etc Kind Regards, Russell