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MG MGA - cyl head gasket

renewing my mga1500 head gasket with a copper/asbestos one any recommendation for a sealer compound coating on the gasket?
trevor burnett

It shouldn't need any if the block and head surfaces are clean. I've not had to do my A yet but my GT has lasted 10k miles after a head change with just a clean back to shiny metal with wire wool and then the standard gasket. All tightened down in the correct order and recommended torque settings Cheers Cam
Cam Cunningham

Hi Trevor. I would not use any sealer. What you should do is remove all the head studs, and deburr the head stud holes. Any burrs around the studs will prevent a proper gasket seal, and can cause a head gasket to blow. Cheers, Glenn
Glenn

I have heard of people using aluminum paint, but have never used anything myself. This is a high pressure area, if the gasket itself doesn't seal, a little sealer isn't going to help. Just my opinion, though.
Tom

I use a light coating of K&W Copperkote spray on sealer on both sides of the gasket. I agree with Tom that no sealer will help in the high pressure areas of the cylinder bore. I have found though that it does seem to lessen the cances of leaks from oil, water, and pushrod passages.
John H

Don't use anything other than a Payen gasket, the others fail in about 10k km.

I use a very thing wipe of Permatex silicon on almost any gasket surface in an attempt to keep things leak-free, and for the most part this works very well.
dominic clancy

Pulling the studs as Glenn suggests is a good Idea. It allows you to clean the block properly. On older engines like ours sometimes the area right around the threads is pulled up slightly. If it is you can countersink the holes.
R J Brown

Does anyone know of an "off the shelf" supplier of MGA Payen gaskets, as we have a three month wait in Australia, and both Moss & Brown & Gammons don't carry these. The Payen part number is AD950. Apparently the delay is caused by the Federal Mogul who control the world-wide distribution of Payen products.
Gary Lock

I am sure that Moss carries these, we had a comment from Craig on this a while ago
dominic clancy

Agree the Payen gasket is the one to go for. In my rebuild I discovered this and was supplied by Bob West, Pontefract, UK. The Part No was AK660. Referred to as a 'sticky MGB head gasket'.
Still no problem now at 1800 miles and for what its worth, at the 500 mile re-torqueing of the head time, none of the head nuts budged.

Pete
Pete Tipping

Gary, have you contacted Moss in the US or UK?

Derek Nicholson

Just for the record, neither Moss Europe or USA stock the Payen gaskets.
Gary Lock

Gary,

I obtained a Payen for my MGB from Classic Motoring here in the ACT last year. They are located at Unit 2/60 Wollongong St. Fyshwick ACT 2609. Their phone is 02 6162 4422, email is info@classicmotoring.net.au, web address is www.classicmotoring.net.au

A couple of Mini enthusiasts with MG, Morris Minor and BMC associations. Small show but appear to be genuine players. They have given a presentation to our local MG Club.

Hope it works for you.

Regards
Roger
Roger T

This thread was discussed between 14/09/2006 and 22/09/2006

MG MGA index

This thread is from the archive. The Live MG MGA BBS is active now.