Head gasket opinions
Turbo Mini Forums

BOOM


anyone had one fail here before, that was with 20psi?

its a 9 stud block, but the head has holes for the 11 studs

would this have anything to do with the failure? it was my initial thought, but then as the hole is there in the gasket it wont be making any difference will it??

im thinking of just bolting it back together and trying again, or should i risk an in-situ 11stud conversion??

eek

I'd go down the 11stud route, especially seeing as the head is already drilled. Drop the head onto the block, nip a couple fo nuts down, then spot through the hole with a close fitting drill to get a centre point. Then remove the head, and seal up all the bores, water and oilways with tank tape or masking tape.
You'll need to get the right sized drill for the 3/8"UNC thread, I can't remember what this is off the top of my head but a google should tell you the answer. Whilst you are doing the drilling get someone else to stand back and "spot" you square, e.g. to make sure you are drilling square. If you can get hold of a magnetic based site pillar drill this would be the ideal tool for the job, I have used one of these on an engine before now to get a hole square to the face of the block.

At the water pump end you will break through into the water jacket, so drain the coolant down first.

I can lend you a 3/8 UNC tap if you haven't got one......

ouch bad luck fella, any damage to the block or head?

Team Racing

One to add to the head gasket bar though....

no none at all fortunatley!! i did have a worrying thought that i might of done a fine impression of you and knackered my bores, but everything is fine

cheers tom, yes i thought with the application of grease, rags, tape, and my utility belt i may get away with a 11stud conversion

you guys missed out, there was a girl there with jubblies the size of my mambas!!!

oh, and i got towed away by a certain young blonde steward who was there last year, not mentioning any names....

She tugged you off the race track did she sir? OOoo suits you sir....

i hope the apparent crap finish on the block where the gasket has blown is just debris, and not rusty corroded block face,.??.
carl

WWW.FORCE-RACING.CO.UK PLEASE CLICK HERE

I think its debris Carl, I know Nic's engine has only done a rolling road session and a track day since being run in from a new build.

yeah debris, it wiped off to spotless condition

as tom says nic go the 2 extra stud route!

be carefull you dont go too deep on the water pump side or you will break through!

i did this on one engine and just broke throug with the taper of the drill, i decided to drill and tap this and fit a M5 grub screw in with high spec stud lock.....sorted the problem.

the original size on the water pump side bolt was 1/4" unc

i would go for that size nic and torque it to
25 lbft as there is not as much meat there compared to the other side to go to 3/8 unc

Mine is 3/8UNC both sides, this is the size of stud ARP supply.

Mine intentionally breaks through into the water jacket, however with a little thread sealer on the thread of the stud this is no problem!

However you are right about not doing that end one as tight, ARP also mention this.

Just 20 psi?
And you have ARP studs aswell...

So was this at a drag-strip?

Avon?

Times?

i have my old block that was 11 studded so i can use that for reference

dave-dont ask! i made a switchable boost thing, but when i got there it would only give me a max of 12psi, so i ended up pulling it off and just running 20psi.

on the first attempt it wheel span off the line, gripped and almost stalled!! 14.8 and 103mph

on the second time another pitiful 60ft then it went pop and i rolled accross the finish line

complete shite! something isnt right

BE COOL ! .. nic................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................

ive done this on my NA engine it was caused buy a big lean out at cruising speed and just melted the fire ring away and bllew it out.

always looking for them bigger bunches of bannanas

This is exactly the problem we had, so we now have 11 studs, seemed fine at the weekend.

I remember the big JF had a similar problem at the fabled TM RR day.

Wil

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

oh well at least it was now not at showdown. did you drive it there too. bummer.

no longer a series, but still 1.3 turbo.

mine went in the exact same position about 2 months ago. and strangely enough, i was putting about 17psi on it!!!!!!!

balls to the blower!!!



1330,stage3 head, gt1549, canems ecu, S/C box and drops

Yep i blew 2 headgaskets in a s many days in the same place, aleit on the other side. Turned out to be a warped block...

i had the same gasket problem last year. i do not know why? block and head were flat. it happened with 16psi. after changing gasket it never happened again.
this season i have edded 11th studs.