24-09-2024, 10:13 PM (This post was last modified: 24-09-2024, 10:14 PM by Howard Wright.)
Hi Ruaridh
I’ve ordered a H/C gasket following this advice from Dave Dye in a post on the forum in 2020.
Cheers
Howard
17-09-2020, 11:45 AM
I have used both gaskets,early and late. Personally prefer to use the late one.
The centre stud is a bit of a worry as this is where the block can crack in 3 directions,to the water hole and 2 -3 cylinders especially on a linered block.
In saying that I used a block like that until while the engine was stored dry it got frost damaged at the front corner ??
With reference to cylinder head leaking, I have an experience that may be relevant.
After the recent overhaul of my Ruby engine and following some miles of running and 3 episodes of retightening of the cylinder head nuts, water and gas was bubbling out around the centre studs. These were new studs screwed into the block with sealant and new nuts. Replacing the gasket didn't fix the leakage.
A VAR member with long experience of Austin Sevens advised me that the new nuts could be the cause. He has had similar leakage and resolved it by using taller nuts of the size that are used on the block to crankcase studs. His theory is that the taller nuts have more threads in contact with the stud threads and therefore are less stressed.
I have fitted the taller nuts and covered 200 miles now without leakage.
Steve I’ve ordered one of the last L/C gaskets our cherished suppliers seem to have!
Graham, that’s interesting. In my case the leak was inside the head and not up the studs. I had exactly your situation with my special, solved by sealant under the head nut washer (not ideal but it has lasted 7000 miles).
With the Green van being persona non grata we took the Special to some hills we hadn’t visited before. Super views over Llandrindod and Bannau Brycheiniog.
A hillclimb that stayed dry, a day when not a single Seven left the track. A day when the sun shone and steam could be seen and heard on the Glos and Warks, autumnal Prescott at its best. Sevens were scattered about the paddock so not a very good line up. Maybe someone has better pictures.
I remember the days when I used to have a foot on each front mudguard and a rope around my neck to pull the engine out…it would be out and on the bench in an hour.
Now, fifty years later, it takes me nearly all day and I need a quiet lie down!
Froze my nuts off today trying to free the engine on this nice Ruby
. It wasn't made easy by having a late HC head, I've put a good dose of release oil in each cylinder and will leave it a week while the garage key holder is away.
