ESM Head Gasket set quality - thoughts please?

[northernboy]

I am rebuilding my Traveller 1098 engine and was wondering if there is any feedback / thoughts on the ESM head gasket set - specifically the actual head gasket. I remember some gaskets are better than others around the water / oil feed holes and cylinder bore?

I also see the kit has o rings for valve stem seals - I would prefer to use the Hat seal to provide a better seal - ??

Head gasket Kit

https://www.morrisminorspares.com/engin ... er-p830230

Hat Valve Stems seals

https://www.morrisminorspares.com/engin ... e-p1238953

[svenedin]

I have used the ESM head gasket set and it was fine but I had to re-do the job (I had trouble with a leaking bypass hose stub) so I then used a copper head gasket from Minispares. It seemed better quality than the ESM one but it is more expensive. The Minispares head gasket is the equivalent of the no longer available Payen head gasket. https://www.minispares.com/gug702506hg- ... minispares

The valve stem o-rings are pretty useless and you're right that the top hat type are better but you need the correct valve guides that have a groove to accept the top hat seals. https://www.morrisminorspares.com/engin ... l-p1209547

Stephen

[northernboy]

Thanks Stephen

Sound advice - I will order a minispares head gasket and compere with the one from ESM which i notice are also copper now (always good to have a spare in any event)

[myoldjalopy]

Yes, worth having a spare one in case the old one blows unexpectedly.......

[northernboy]

The ESM head gasket has arrived and I am pleased to say it looks much better than the photo on ESM website. It is copper backed and has the re enforcement rings that cheaper gaskets do not. I will fit this gasket as am confident is good one.

[svenedin]

That does look good. I think it has been updated since I fitted mine as the side that faces the block (darker colour) looks different. If you are not experienced with head gaskets, have a read of the various forum posts. Especially concerning ensuring the faces of block and head are clean, flat and not scratched or gouged. Also Phil's advice about lightly countersinking the stud holes where there may be "pulled up threads" that can lead to the head gasket seal failing. Since there head and block are cast iron you do not have to be so gentle in getting the faces clean as you would have to be with aluminium alloy parts. A window scraper designed for getting paint off windows works really well and I found it will catch on pulled up threads so you will know you need to sort them out. Otherwise a green plastic pot scourer pad lubricated with WD40 is effective.

Stephen

[northernboy]

Thank you - good advice which I will follow

[svenedin]

Another tip, not mine Philthehill's, if you need to countersink any pulled-up threads use grease. Any metal swarf will be caught in the grease which you can then clean up.

Stephen