QuestionHi Howard,
to answer your questions, I used the cylinder head nut tightening sequence given in my Haynes MGB manual. This sequence is also precisely the sequence given in my vintage BMC Service workshop manual for MGBs. I tightened them to 50 ft.lbs., about 1/3 of a turn at a time.
With my bare eyes I actually looked real close at the head (while I had it on the bench fixing the one valve keeper problem and placing the aftermarket seals), and saw no defects. I thought I did the straight edge examination on the head and block just fine, but maybe I didn't...
I would assert that before I pulled the head the head gasket did not leak. I loosened the nuts in sequence described above. Interestingly after I pulled the head the copper gasket was quite wet with oil. I cleaned the mating surfaces with solvent, and did the straight edge thing, before I carefully lowered the gasket and head onto the block. Is it possible that just by my removing the head I warped it?
I think my next step is to find a machine shop for magnafluxing, etc.
Thank you again, for your persistence and patience!
Regards,
Dan
AnswerDan, it sounds like you did everything correctly. No, you could not warp the head with the procedure you used. I would note the area that leaks and when you get the head off use your straight edge on that section on the head and block and look for accidental trash form a stud hole may have got on the gasket as you installed the head. I have seen that happen in the shops I worked in.
I can't help believe something is holding the head up in that area because that is not a normal area for cracks.
I did notice at the dealerships I worked in that the older "red" engines never leaked like the "Black" engines did between #2 and #3 cylinders and they seemed to always leave rust streaks down the block.
About 10 years ago I had the occasion to have a red engine (67) and a black engine (72)of my own torn down and I examined what the differences were.
I found that on the emission control (black) engines had smaller coolant transfer holes from block to head and one hole was missing. So I drilled the missing hole and drilled out the small holes to the older red engine design and I drove that black engine back and forth to work for 5 years and hand no leakage and thus no rust streaks on the center of the block. I don't remember if the 68 B had the hole problem or not, even though it was a "red" engine it did have some emission control systems. When you get the head off it is something to look at.
I can't tell you to do what I did but that is just info on what I did on one engine.
Howard
