Morris Minor Owners Club

as most of us know, the mg tf cylinder head is prone to blowing the gasket, basic design fault but with a new gasket and a quick skim all is fixed.
however, how does one know that this has been done? i ask as i considering buying one as an everyday run around for uni, but the salesmen at the car place isnt sure that the particular mg has been done.

any visable signs such as different colour gasket or head markings? or should i consult my tealeaves and/or crystal balls?

If the work had been carried out then I would have thought the seller would have some proof (receipts) and be keen to show them to a potential buyer. So I would assume it hasn't been done and build this into your negotiations so either they do the work to give you peace of mind or knock the price of the purchase cost and you do the work or take the risk.

It's just not true that this is a 'common fault' - it only happens on engines that are neglected in some way - eg allowed to run low on water. The long bolts should also be replaced if the head gasket is changed.

bmcecosse wrote:It's just not true that this is a 'common fault' - it only happens on engines that are neglected in some way - eg allowed to run low on water. The long bolts should also be replaced if the head gasket is changed.

The problem was the cheap silicon sealant they used instead of a proper copper gasket. The early cars were ok, but cutting costs led to an inferior sealant. I had a TF, drove it sensibly, kept an eye on the coolant levels... it still blew!

Personally I'd negotiate £500 off the price of the car to pay to get the job done, then pour loads of barrs fluid into the coolant until you get the chance to get the head done properly yourself.

Contact JLH