Triumph Repair: Head gasket, coolant leaks, gasket maker

Question
Symptoms are water out the exhaust and bubbles in the radiator.  The gaskets I have received have not had a thicker fire ring.  Do you know a source for the correct gasket?
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Followup To

Question -
Stamped on the head is TKC 3239   cast into the head is RKC 0589    2807    The block has a stamped # FM 88817 UE     Thanks for the help  Ken  -------------------------    Followup To    Question -   Yes, the gasket I used has the tab, in fact I m on my third gasket all from diferent sources.  All supposed to be spitfire 1500.    -------------------------    Followup To    Ken,

Well, those are 1500 engine and head numbers.. so that's one possible issue resolved.

The correct head gaskets have a raised lip to the fire ring that's proud of the gasket surface on the block side.  The Mk I-III gaskets are the same on both sides of the gasket.

Yes, on the 1500 block the water passages are close to the cylinder bores... approximately 3/8" or less from the sealing groove milled in the block.

The gaskets I've seen all have simple circles punched for the water passages.  The easy way to verify passage alignment is to fit the gasket to the head using 3/8" bolts pushed into the head stud holes.  Verify that holes in the gasket do line up with the holes in the casting.

Then do the same with the block.

Once in a while the gasket might have extra holes that don't match anything on your particular engine.  That can reflect a minor change the manufacturer made at one point and the gasket maker is trying to minimize the number of different gaskets they have to carry.

What I should have asked up front was:  How do you know the gasket is bad?  External oil or coolant leaks?  Oil in the water?  Water in the oil?  Or just poor running?


Cheers,

Jim

Answer
Ken,

I'd be curious to find out what suppliers you've been dealing with, and what brand/part numbers are on the gaskets you've been sold.

Any of the major Spitfire suppliers should be able to supply the proper gasket.

I usually try not to name names in this forum but you should have no problems finding the proper head gasket from anyone in the following list:

The Roadster Factory (www.the-roadster-factory.com)
Moss Motors (www.mossmotors.com)
SpitBits  (www.spitbits.com)
British Parts Northwest (www.bpnorthwest.com)
Motorhead (Northern Virginia)  (www.motorheadltd.com)
TSI Imported Automotive   (www.tsimportedautomotive.com)
Rimmer Brothers (www.rimmerbros.co.uk)

Cheers,


Jim