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MG MGA - What do these pictures tell you.

Further to my post about the blown out head here are the photos.

Please tell me what you think the tea leaves are telling us.

Here's the pistons and the head gasket. Note the burned out area between #2 and #3




T McCarthy

Here's the head. Note the color of the exhaust valves and the chipping of the valves. Also note the oily condition of the carbon deposits.


T McCarthy

Close up of #2 and #3


T McCarthy

Finally here's the exhaust port. Note the different color of the gasket.

If you look carefully in the port you will see the discolored valve stem.
T McCarthy

Probably a good idea to have that head hot tanked and magnafluxed for cracks before you spend any money on parts for it.
Del Rawlins

Tyson,
Without cleaning it up, I can't tell, but clean the oil and as Del says, definitely get the head checked for cracks, especially between cyl. 2&3. I am glad for you that it's not a holed piston. Also check the block between the cylinders for wire draw.(grooves where hot exhaust gases cut out the cast iron.)
mike parker

Del and Mike are correct on the head. Get a large fine flat file, make sure it is flat! Remove the head studs from the block and plug the cylinders and all the holes in the block and run the file across the block side to side at an angle using light pressure on the file, do not bow the file with pressure. This will take the high spots off and let you get a good look at the area between #2 & #3. Barney has a section on his sight about cutting in eyebrows in the block, use the method he describes for pluging all the holes in the block.
Given what appears to be oily residue in all the cylinders, it may be time for a complete overhaul or at least ring replacement. It may also have been caused by oil in #2 & #3 getting into the other cylinders through the intake manifold, check it for oil in all the ports. Given the increase in oil consumption and the apperance of a lot of blowby into the crankcase you described, I'm suprised you didn't have a hole in a piston.
J Heisenfeldt

This thread was discussed between 09/08/2008 and 10/08/2008

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