400SE head gasket help please.

[Pooh]

Could somebody tell me if the head-gasket on a 400SE is the same as one for a 4.0l rover V8 or is it something special?
Thanks
Robert.

[pwd95]

Nothing special but there are a few different types. Best whip it out & replace like for like if your sure thats whats wrong.

[Pooh]

pwd95 said:

Nothing special but there are a few different types. Best whip it out & replace like for like if your sure thats whats wrong.

Thanks for the reply.
The car is in the local garage, they have taken off the heads and sent them away to have the exhaust manifold bolt holes helicoiled(several of them have stripped threads). The garage said that the old gaskets came off in bits so they are not much help. The company re-doing the heads are supplying the new gaskets and I want to be sure they are getting the correct ones.

[rev-erend]

It would be worth while getting they to use these bolts.. you would have to supply them..

http://www.v8tuner.co.uk/product.php?id=222

They look much nicer that the rusty originals ..

It's also worth knowing that there are two types of gasket available at 94mm bore (3.9/4 litre)-

Composite
Tin

The tin gaskets are thinner and increase the compression ratio a bit .. so a bit of extra power ..

Composite - these provide a better seal for heads that might not be absolutely true (flat)..

http://www.v8tuner.co.uk/category.php?id=21

[Pooh]

rev-erend said:

It would be worth while getting they to use these bolts.. you would have to supply them..

http://www.v8tuner.co.uk/product.php?id=222

They look much nicer that the rusty originals ..

It's also worth knowing that there are two types of gasket available at 94mm bore (3.9/4 litre)-

Composite
Tin

The tin gaskets are thinner and increase the compression ratio a bit .. so a bit of extra power ..

Composite - these provide a better seal for heads that might not be absolutely true (flat)..

http://www.v8tuner.co.uk/category.php?id=21

Thanks.

[carob]

When i head the heads done on my old 350i i renewed all the bolts also, got the lot from Rimmers. Changed the valley gasket also whilst it was in bits.

Hopefully you will be sorted in no time.

Could even make the Rusty Nail Run in Dumfries in September.

Rob

[adam quantrill]

Helicoiling sounds quite expensive, much easier to just tap them out for M10 studs/bolts.

I used composite gaskets on the 350i, they worked a treat.

[Pooh]

carob said:

When i head the heads done on my old 350i i renewed all the bolts also, got the lot from Rimmers. Changed the valley gasket also whilst it was in bits.

Hopefully you will be sorted in no time.

Could even make the Rusty Nail Run in Dumfries in September.


Rob

I hope to have it up and running by the end of next week, I have never heard of the rusty nail run but I am always up for runs if it is possible for me to attend.

[Pooh]

adam quantrill said:

Helicoiling sounds quite expensive, much easier to just tap them out for M10 studs/bolts.

I used composite gaskets on the 350i, they worked a treat.

The helicoiling is already done, they have completely stripped and refurbished the heads so they should be good as new, I am not looking forward to the bill but I decided to do it properly.
Composite head gaskets are being supplied along with exhaust gaskets etc.

Thanks all, I will let you know how it goes when it is all fixed.

[carob]

Rusty Nail Run,(named after the drink)

Will be taking place over the weekend of September 25/26 at Dumfries.

It is the first time the run is taking place, as some wedgers thought it would be a good idea to have a run north of the border.

Some of us are staying over in Dumfries at the Cairndale Lesiure Club (Special Rates) and your more than welcome to join us, or just nip along for a blast out on some great roads.

See the Rusty Nail Thread

Cheers

Rob

[Pooh]

carob said:

Rusty Nail Run,(named after the drink)

Will be taking place over the weekend of September 25/26 at Dumfries.

It is the first time the run is taking place, as some wedgers thought it would be a good idea to have a run north of the border.

Some of us are staying over in Dumfries at the Cairndale Lesiure Club (Special Rates) and your more than welcome to join us, or just nip along for a blast out on some great roads.

See the Rusty Nail Thread

Cheers

Rob

Sounds good, I would certainly like to come if car and work permit it, I will have to see nearer the time.

[Number 7]

Also worth using ARP studs rather than bolts to secure the heads - and not using the outer row of 4 on each head, which was actually the case on later versions, as I believe they can cause the head to be clamped unevenly.

7.

[Wedg1e]

Pooh said:

pwd95 said:

Nothing special but there are a few different types. Best whip it out & replace like for like if your sure thats whats wrong.

Thanks for the reply.
The car is in the local garage, they have taken off the heads and sent them away to have the exhaust manifold bolt holes helicoiled(several of them have stripped threads). The garage said that the old gaskets came off in bits so they are not much help. The company re-doing the heads are supplying the new gaskets and I want to be sure they are getting the correct ones.

Sent them away? For a few bloody Helicoils? It's a ten minute job, easily the sort of thing that any self-respecting 'mechanic' should be able to do.

[Pooh]

Wedg1e said:

Pooh said:

pwd95 said:

Nothing special but there are a few different types. Best whip it out & replace like for like if your sure thats whats wrong.

Thanks for the reply.
The car is in the local garage, they have taken off the heads and sent them away to have the exhaust manifold bolt holes helicoiled(several of them have stripped threads). The garage said that the old gaskets came off in bits so they are not much help. The company re-doing the heads are supplying the new gaskets and I want to be sure they are getting the correct ones.

Sent them away? For a few bloody Helicoils? It's a ten minute job, easily the sort of thing that any self-respecting 'mechanic' should be able to do.

TBH I do not know much about helicoiling but they did say they were going to put in steel inserts, skim the heads, fit new valve stem seals, valve guides etc so the heads should be as good as new.