MG Car Repair: MG Midget, head gasket failure, torque settings

Question
My 1972 MG Midget has started smoking badly from the exhaust, the smoke is a grey / white colour. I cannot hear any worrying noises from the engine but the car will not tick over on its own. The power seems to be there still and the car starts without any problems. Do you have any ideas of what may be wrong.

Answer
Oh dear.  You have all the classic symptoms of head gasket failure.  Water is getting from the engine into the combustion chamber and coming out as steam.  If you ignore it, it will soon get worse and do even more damage.

If your car has recently had a new engine or any work requiring removal of the cylinder head, then you might just get away with re-tightening the head stud nuts to the recommended torque settings.  However, do not be tempted to over-tighten them.  If they do require tightening, then remember to check and if necessary re-set the tappets afterwards.  

If that doesn't fix it, then I am afraid the cylinder head must come off.  Get the head checked to make sure that it has not warped or cracked, and re-fit it with a new gasket.  Fortunately, on a Midget this is an easy job and relatively inexpensive.  

Just a final thought.  Has your car ever been converted for unleaded fuel?  If not, now is the time to get it done, while the head is off.