The Triumph Dolomite Club - Discussion Forum

Hi
Where is the best place to buy a head gasket set for the sprint. And should I use hematite blue on the head gasket.
Also when refitting the head to the block what do you use so all the bolt holes line up as there are no dowels.
The car is not on the road at the moment so when should I retourqe the head.
Any other tips for refitting would be great.
Thanks
Mike.

If you want a genuine Payen gasket (recommended) Rimmers have some. I bought one recently and looks authentic (there are so called Payen being sold that are not made by payen. (In fact Payen do not make them any more so whats out there is new old stock)
In the workshop manual there are dimensions shown for the dummy studs to use as guides for the head and gasket.
Torque the head and run the engine, then next day when cold, slacken one at a time and retorque. Then after 500 miles repeat

Tony

Hi Tony
Thanks for the reply
Should I put anything on the gasket like hermatite blue or do I use it as is dry.
Mike.

Dry, no sealants.

It looks as if I am going to have to replace the head gasket on one of my 1500cc engines so is the recommendation Not to use any hermatite blue on that like a sprint head?

Hi
Thanks for the replys
Are the dummy studs in the manual the same size as the ones in the engine. Would I be able to cut two down to use.
Thanks
Mike.

I use two of the head studs inserted in the head bolt holes to align the head.

Yes the dummy studs are made from either the bolts or studs, cut down and a hacksaw cut in the end to remove it (length of stud is less than the height of the head). Too long and the head hits the inner wing before it gets down to the surface. The dimensions are in the workshop manual which I dont have access to right now, but can find tomorrow if you need them still.

Tony

Hi
I have just replaced the head gasket on the sprint with a payen one from rimmer bros. I didn't put any sealent on it as advised and put it all back together and torqued it all down to 55lb foot in three stages as the manual says. I filled it with water and noticed it was leaking from the head gasket joint between the head and block. When I started the engine there is loads of white smoke so it has failed.
Is there anything I have missed. Should I have put blue hermatite on.
Any advise as to where to start now.
Thanks
Mike

Never ever put any extra sealant on an headgasket. Never ask again. Did I say you should never use any extra sealant on an headgasket?

What bolt sequence did you use when tightening? Some manuals do have this wrong.

Jeroen

Hi
I never put any sealent on the head gasket I used it dry.
The tightening sequence was all the stud first starting from the centre and working outward and then the bolts working outwards. When I filled it with water it started leaking from the gasket.
Mike

Ok. What year is your sprint and was the head skimmed? Did you re-use the studs and bolts?

Jeroen

Not sure it its been mentioned but never ever use any type of sealant for head gaskets

In all seriousness don't do it for two reasons, firstly it could mean its not torqued down correctly, 2nd... you don't want bits of sticky sealant in the waterways, oil ways or chamber and lastly, did I say two or three because of the nature of sealant you can't guarantee a consistent seal.
Oh and one more reason..... Jereon says not too so that alone would be a good enough reason
So that's four reasons why you shouldn't use it.

It's a 1977 sprint the head was checked it was flat and pressure tested but not skimmed. I used all the original studs, nuts and bolts. I used sealent on my vitesse head gasket and that is fine.
Mike

If the head is skimmed what size would the head have to be to have to use the thicker gasket and what place would you measure it. Also the thicker gasket in rimmer bros is not payen. So is it OK to still fit dry.
Mike