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MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Is my head warped??

Hi all, I hope someone can help. My wife was out in her 1500 midget yesterday and heard a 'noise' from under the bonnet. The car was thereafter running very badly but she managed to limp home. Checks this evening showed no compression reading on nr 1 and 2 cylinders. I've removed the head to find a gap in the head gasket almost 1/2" wide between 1 and 2 cylinders - the mystery of no compression is solved then!

Any idea why this should happen?

Also, having run a steel rule across the face of the head, there's a gap of about 4 thou between the rule and face of the head from about the centre of 1 and centre of 4 chambers - does this constitute a warped head or is this within tolerance?

Any comments gratefully received.

Regards

Andy
Andy Kenning

Andy

What you have is a flame over blow out. The water would have gotten super heated by this and yes it is possible that you have warped the head.

Rather than rely on your measures (no insult intended) but it is a 20 second test for a machine shop. Personally I would use a 2thou feeler gauge at various intervals and if nice and tight be reasonably happy, but 4 sounds a little too much.

While you have the head off though if it hasnt already been done, now would be the time to have it converted to unleaded with hardened valve seats let into the exhaust valves, and maybe new exhaust valves too. I would also consider replacing all the valve guides as they are probably worn out too. Now is the time to do a thorough head job - winter is coming on so you wont be using the car any way!

Paul
Paul Barrow

I got to 2nd paul....

prop
Prop

This thread was discussed between 02/09/2008 and 03/09/2008

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

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