bk 450 gaskets blowing at opposite ends of the head?
Turbo Mini Forums

Because you could be hiding an underlying issue with CR or timing causing detonation. If you then fit a possibly more robust cometic gasket, you'll then start melting pistons instead of popping gaskets.

You need to check your torque wrench, ignition timing, fuelling and work out your CR.

I'm on 8.6:1 CR with 20psi with a BK450. So the gasket itself shouldn't be your problem.

In the 13's at last!.. Just

Has anybody actually had success using a copper gasket with a boosted A series? I seem to recall them not being up to the job when tried in the past.

Most folk don't have any issue with the BK450. Unless you've had one of the dodgy batch, it's not a gasket issue.
As I said in my first post 55ft/lb with ARP studs is excessive. You will possibly distort the block around the studs and you will distort the gasket by crushing the fire ring.
Also bear in mind what others have said, are there any signs of det ? If so what's your maximum ignition advance, was the fuelling correct, what's your compression ratio and charge temps ?

Phil.

WWW.TURBO-MINI.COM

If Jimster is throwing 30psi down its neck at 260+ hp on a BK450 with extra holes punched in to it, there is not much wrong with the gasket really !

oil on the gasket? i tought it needed to be as dry and clean as possible ( sorry to hack the post)

you can do anything if you set your mind to it...
i rather blow it up winning than keep it together losing.

finish date set for project 1... march 2018

I don't think the BK450 is your issue.

Confirm your compression ratio, if suitable reassemble to the correct torque.

Get your ignition timing correct.

Try running at 4psi first of all.
What boost level are you trying to run it at?

I think you have an underlying issue and throwing money at alternative head gaskets will not fix it.

To answer the question about other gaskets. I use the AF460 gasket on mine (because the center fillet on the BK450 damages my alloy head).

Anyway I run 20 psi and it's not an issue. The BK450 is better than the AF460. So I concure with all the above, it not a gasket issue.

Although remember I use 11 studs. My gasket never failed like yours, it failed over a much longer period of time and the extra clamping of the outer studs cured it.

Edited by wil_h on 27th Apr, 2017.

Fastest 998 mini in the world? 13.05 1/4 mile 106mph

www.twin-turbo.co.uk

i only use 9 studs seems to work though

Edited by robert on 27th Apr, 2017.

Medusa + injection = too much torque for the dyno ..https://youtu.be/qg5o0_tJxYM

Ok I hear the voices loud and clear may be I am not cut out to build a turbo motor even if it is to standard spec, if all else fails I will have to go back to N/A
cheers
Roy

AP I get what your saying mate but I have been pissing about with problem after problem building this car particularly with the engine /box/tunning its fought me all the way to the dyno.
After building minis at home for many years I decided that I was going turbo, so after this car landed
on my drive through circumstance I took it on BIG MISTAKE! its done more miles on the dyno than on the road.
I thought that rebuilding and setting up a turbo motor would be no more difficult than an n/a car
HOW WRONG WAS I but I have learnt a lot doing it
So ,as they say in Yorkshire, pull thee sen together get thees ass into gear and sort it out , thees acting like a lass lad is that the message AP?
cheers
Roy
ps how much are your butt plugs?

don't give up! think of the sense of achievement when you work it out and get it sorted. Took me a while to sort out niggles with mine (and a 15yr build!) but would struggle with an NA engine now.

get the compression ratio worked out as has been mentioned on more than one occasion and start from there. I don't think there is anything we haven't been able to work out on the forum other than Andy's desire for a supercharger

Thanks Rob
cheers
Roy

It shall all be worth it once this niggle is sorted! Believe me! And since mines been off the road after its crash a year ago ive been running around in a n/a mini n as much as i love that one HELL do i miss boost!!

My car took 7 years and has done 60 miles in the 2 years since.

I'm glad I'm not the only one, I've done 300 miles in 3 years...

i'm very similar Jay. First year cost me £2/ mile just in tax and insurance

Mate, have a look of my build page to see how much crap I went through, and it all came down to the CR being out.

Cost me..
two sets of pistons
A head
About 10 head gaskets
Some valves along the way

But with the help of people on here I got it sorted.

I have started posting on Instagram also my name on there is turbomk1golf

Nothing is impossible it just costs more and takes longer.

Guys
Thanks for the reassurance but you get to a point with certain cars where you think why did I bother
I have a 73 bogo standard 850 van which I absolutely love puts a smile on my face every time I see it
and is a joy to drive , but the turbo , as yet, has not achieved that status and has a long way to go
Will keep you posted
cheers
Roy

I think we need to get you a drive in a turbo car then. That should give you a bit of encouragement!

get it back to basics and post up what you have. What work if anything has been done to the head? do you know the chamber size?

I've not really seen past half throttle, with a run-in map in the ECU and on medium boost but 5 minutes of driving that was enough to spur me to fight on!

Through my ignorance and with the help and encouragement of many people on here I took almost two years to get my turbo running right. In that time I blew one piston, one gearbox and a diff,snapped a timing chain as well as setting the car on fire briefly.
Since then I have done almost 20k and it always brings a smile to my face when I hit boost. Keep going, it will be worth it.

Well since fitting a cometic gasket and a set of ARP head studs the car is running perfect no issues
I have been running 45 miles a day to work and back home with a big grin on my face and over 500 miles on the car.
I must admit that when at idle in a long queue the engine temperature rise but I have a secondary electric fan that I switch on to cool her down so some work to do here intercooler?
Thanks for all the comments and suggestions but I think I have proved the cars reliability enough to be a daily driver
thanks
Roy

Glad got a solution