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MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG MGA - Silicone Gaskets

1958 MGA Roadster.

Recently I saw advertised on Ebay silicone gaskets for BMC-B series motors. They were rocker cover and side cover gaskets.
Does anyone use this type of gasket?
Are they any better than cork gaskets?
Do any of the well known MG Parts suppliers (eg. Moss, LBC, Victoria British, etc) stock them?
Dave Barron

YES!
Unlike the ones from the usual source, these fit and are a little softer, just don't forget a little sealer around the bolts.
Doug
D Sjostrom

Dave - The new Moss catalog is out and they are in there for $23.95 US .Seems like a good idea but I have no experence with them . Part # 296-425. Gary
gary starr

I bought a set of these as did another member from our club. We both had the same result .... disaster!! The silicone is very flexible and even with a gasket dressing the heat actually caused the gasket to slip inward and the sides drooped down into the head beside the tappets. I had an engine oil bath and stained driveway before I realized what was happening. I know there will be a lot of discussion about tightening the valve cover etc etc but the other fellow is well experienced, whereas I am not so much, and he had exactly the same result. I threw the silicone one away and went with a new cork type and no problem. Sometimes we look for new improvements to items that work quite well as they are .... if it ain't broke don't fix it !!!
Michael Hosier

I have about 3000 miles on silicone gaskets.My MGA engine has never been so dry, dipstick level hasn't move one bit. I know that silicone is slippery, so i sprayed one side of the gaskets and the mating side of the valve and side covers with 3M "77" adhesive, waited 15 minutes then joined them. enjoy whats left of summer! Bill
w.g cook

Silicone GREASE on the STANDARD CORK GASKETS works better than Silicone RUBBER in my opinion! I use PERMATEX #1 ( The one that HARDENS ) on the Valve Cover side of the Valve Cover Gasket, and DOW CORNING DC-4 SILICONE GREASE on the Engine Side, allowing me to remove & replace the Valve Cover for Tappet Adjustments & REUSING THE CORK GASKET SEVERAL TIMES WITHOUT ANY OIL LEAKS! (OK, I'm "cheap"!) Incidently, the "Torque Wrench Figure" is INCH-LBS, instead of FOOT-LBS on the Cover Bolts! I just tighten them alternately until I see the DC-4 JUST squish out evenly all around the ends of the gasket.
OLD BILL-67

This thread was discussed between 18/08/2005 and 31/08/2005

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