MG-Cars.info

Welcome to our Site for MG, Triumph and Austin-Healey Car Information.

Parts

MG parts spares and accessories are available for MG T Series (TA, MG TB, MG TC, MG TD, MG TF), Magnette, MGA, Twin cam, MGB, MGBGT, MGC, MGC GT, MG Midget, Sprite and other MG models from British car spares company LBCarCo.

MG Midget and Sprite Technical - Best head gasket?

Over winter I'll be doing some work on the 12G295 head on my 1098cc engine, porting,etc.
Which is the best head gasket to use once the work has been done. The block is overbored 40thou, giving 1133cc and the head has already been skimmed.
I've had a couple of failures in the past with gaskets from Moss, so I wonder if anyone could advise as to the best gasket to choose and where to obtain it.

Thanks, as always.
Bernie.
Bernie Higginson

After a couple of problems, I opted for a Payen BK450 1275 Head Gasket that I bought from MRA Minis, but I'm not sure MRA is around any more. But you can get one as part of the gasket set from MinSpares for £17.22.

No problems at all since fitting that particular gasket.
Peter Blockley

The last Payen BK450 I bought was from Moss. I bought it about April this year but I've just looked on their website and there is no mention of it.

Maybe they keep them under the counter and you have to ask for "something for the weekend"!!!!

Rob

Rob aka MG Moneypit

IIRC the BK450 is the Payen number for a Metro Turbo. MOss list this under the Rover/XPart number GUG702560HG.
Does a 1275 gasket work OK on a 1098 engine?
David Smith

You can certainly use a 1275 gasket on a small bore block when using a 12G940 head, but I think there may be an issue when using a 1098 head, due to large water passages in the head which overlap the fire-rings. That is certainly the case with the 948 head.

I don't have a 1098 head to hand, so I can't check.
Dave O'Neill 2

Dave,

I would say that is true as I fitted a 12G940 head to a 1098 and had issues with the fire ring leaking at the back of the block where it overlapped a rusty spot on the block caused by the large passage in the small bore gasket and maybe head.
David Billington

The payne AF 407 ??? Seems to have had a rash of problems with the brass crush oil ring getting loose in the front right corner as your facing the engine

but as far a best gasket... hands down Cometic MLS... its a little bit of a learning curve and you have to hunt for the proper installation procedures....but once you past that mess... it does the job i love mine and well worth the $100 i paid for it

the down side that intial front end learning curve on how to install a MLS gasket

do they make one for the 1098....eeehhhhh thats another unknown question

prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

No definitive answer then?
I've been looking at a few other forums (Morris Minor etc.) and I can't seem to get a "This is the one you should get" opinion. I have however seen quite a few people slagging off Cometic gaskets saying that they leak, and other people saying that it's not the Cometic gasket, but the block or head at fault, or incorrect installation.
So, I'm in a bit of a quandary as to what to do.
Bernie Higginson

Yepp... cometic will have some bad reviews ... they bring it on them selves with the attitude that they ASSUME you have installed on before

it took me 3 to 4 attempts to install mine correctly and a pile of searcing... so yeah theres some pissed off people about comtic.. but once its done correctly its a great gasket

prop
Prop and the Blackhole Midget

Minispares list a competition small-bore gasket C-AEA647.

At £21.60 you'd expect it to work, although it's currently out of stock.
Dave O'Neill 2

Yepp... cometic will have some bad reviews

Where did you see that?

3 to 4 attempts to install mine correctly and a pile of searcing


Did they give instructions on how to install?

I put 1 on a healey just like a regular head gasket and had no problems.



S

This thread was discussed between 26/08/2016 and 28/08/2016

MG Midget and Sprite Technical index

This thread is from the archives. Join the live MG Midget and Sprite Technical BBS now