GRP A Headgaskets are they worth it?
Turbo Mini Forums

GRP A Headgaskets are they worth it?

I've got one on my current engine only because the block was allready machined for it, but I've have had a couple go over a few years (blown between No. 2 and 3).
I've just waisted two after fitting a new head which turned out to have a hole in it. The guy I bought the head off of (Stuart Gurr of VMAX) is doing me a new head and sending me a gasket free of charge but it's still cost me a resonable amount of money.
If it were a standard one at ?15 or there abouts I wouldn't mind, but at ?90 a go they're a bit pricey to be chucking away after 0 miles. They're also a bit difficult to get hold of at times too.

My engines a 1310 so it's on the limit of what recomended for them anyway.

I'm just planning for my next project, I think i'll stay at about 1310 as I'm not sure about big bore Turbos, at 1380 things are getting a bit thin. Or are they?????

Bottom line is are they really worth it?
How far can you go on a standard one?
Or are there any other options for High output turbo's, headgasket wise?

most of us here don't use them, and run around 20 psi, BK450 does us fine.

I was under the impression you could re-use the group A gaskets

Team Racing

I use the BK 450 from minispares (Rover 1275 mini/metro). I've only blown them when doing silly things like having bleed valves fall out and the like.
They've never blown when i've used up to 16psi for road and dragging.
Carl Austin, Ian Johnson, and Jon Haston all use BK450 aswell (the fastest nitrous minis). Only the charge stealing problem of the A-series has become the demise of gaskets at high gas usage, but this is not the fault of the gasket.

Incidentally, I also use the standard Y head studs, and only ever use the torque settings from Haynes metro manual.

As far as i'm concerned, the BK450 (?7 ish) will easilly do for a properly set up 200hp A-Series. If you are blowing them, something is wrong; warped head/block, too much boost, poor set-up, etc.
Just my thoughts however...

I personally would never fit a Grp A gasket. ?80 ???? Stuff that.

If you can get 200BHP out of a normal one then I wont bother.
200 BHP should be plenty

What's the BK450?

I've only over used the genuine Rover head gaskets before other than the GRP A ones

A couple of people have suggested to me that you can re-use the GRP As but several other people say not.

Not sure really

not sure if it'll make a good seal the second time with out adding a couple of extra Nm's but shouldn't really do that either.

I always stick to the book on that one too

BK450 is the PAYEN part number of the head gasket as sold to Rover for the 1275 mini /metros.... Around ?12 from Rover, or ?7 from minispares.

or ?6 from any motorfactors

Everyone knows that instructions only have to be read if the thing doesn't work....

ok

I've always used the Rover number TAM1521

cheers

i used a copper minisport one paid about 25 quid

Previous Engine: 1040cc Morespeed engine, 1275 turbo head T2 Turbo Mirage Manifolds Megajolt
Previous engine: STD metro turbo, megajolt
Drives: 399bananahp (flywheel) Honda Civic Vtec b18c4 T28 Turbo 1968 Mini

Megajolt maps to download: http://www.jamesfawcett.co.uk/cms/index.ph...&gid=3&Itemid=3

Yes it amazing what a standard gasket takes.

Best 1/4 mile 13.2 seconds @116 mph
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on a carb?
First 5 port miniturbo to make over 200 bhp on Injection?

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