Forum for discussion of MG and MGB motorsports, historic and current (SCCA, NASA, VARA, etc) car preparation, engine, bodywork, suspension, drivetrain modification.
Greetings to all, I am slowly getting better, which turns my mind to hope (racing).
What head gasket do you all run on a 12.5 x 1 compression competition enigine +0.040, using the factory head? How about an alloy head? No particular reason, just asking, It is 5:30 AM pdst, I just woke up and thought I would ask...
Well I'd say that the Payen copper gasket is the most used choice, I however like the Cometic head gasket, we've used these head gaskets on 1275s with as much as 15 to 1 compression ratios, and had zero failures, and I also had a customer who used the cometic head gasket on his 18 to 1 948 ( I know that sounds like a lie, but it's not) and he had zero head gasket failures with it as well. For the B series engine, I think the Cometic head gasket is about as bullit-proff as you can get, even though in my world 12 to 1 is not a huge amount of compression ratio, the Cometic gasket would be one less thing you have to worry about, if you're having head gasket problems, also make sure you straight check both the block and head decks. Cometic is what I used on the Huffaker MGB engine and it with it's Tabor head was about 14.0 to 1, we did have a head gasket failure with that motor and the Cometic gasket, but that was more due to a
"know-it-all" crew member ignoring my ignition timing directions and exceeding them. I found with the MGB engine that if you get the compression way up there you must lower the timing a good bit more than you would say for a A-series engine.
The cometic head gasket will cost you more, about $90, but they are reuseable, and I highly recommend them, I have about 5 years experience with Cometic gaskets now, and it's all positive. Bud , hope this helps, if you need help getting a Cometic gasket, give me a shout Monday and I'll help you with this.
Bud, The all black Payen gasket is my gasket of choice as it is for Prather, Brannon, Karlson, Ellis... all the SCCA guys. It'll cost about $20-25 and is reuseable. Everyone abandoned the copper gaskets when these came out. I've been told that Fel-Pro sells the same gasket in its kits but I'm not sure about that. You can get the black Payen gasket almost everywhere if you ask for it - don't just say "Payen" - describe the all black, composite gasket with steel fire rings around the bores. Best of Luck. basil
Speedracer Wrote:
bills Wrote:
I've used both the Payen and Fel-Pro. I think they are different gaskets, but equal quality. Of course I don't put them through the rigors you guys do though!
B-racer Wrote:
I've never used a cometic on in a B, but they seem to work great on the lotus engines.
We always use the payen gaskets, they never seem to fail.
Sean