Head gasket problems!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[CRAMBURY RS]

We use Hylomar on MLS gaksets on both sides (lightly!). The surfaces of the block and head need to be flat flat. Finish is less important as long as they are flat and square.

I will see if i can get anything expedited as I am a Cometic dealer.

i like you sir!

[racerstev]

Hey guys, I might have found someone to help us out with Cometic. I was surfing and came across

http://www.thomas4parts.com/specials.htm

Any idea just how many people would be interested in this gasket?
I'm guessing the price would be around $260, not sure if that's US or AU dollars though..

I just don't want to deal with blown gaskets left and right agein...

[theelanman]

blimey.......

genuine lotus are still listed and there is a group buy underway

A full top set $130.00 with turbo, $174.27 with out
or............
just the head gasket at $33.94 with turbo and $49.78 with out.

[racerstev]

For me it's worth the money not to have to pull it down agein when the stock gasket goes.
I'm planning on alot more power then stock...

Steve

[CRAMBURY RS]

For me it's worth the money not to have to pull it down agein when the stock gasket goes.
I'm planning on alot more power then stock...

Steve

i'm with Steve. the weakest point of this engine in high HP output is the bloody gasket. for those LEC members that completed or have their LGM GT series upgrade/kit this gasket will be the difference in how long the engine will push over a bar of boost. my stock gasket held 12psi on the OE ECU, but even with a tune the detonation destroyed my HG at 20psi.

i upgraded to the GT2560R for the possibility of running 22psi efficiently (turbo map) on demand. my dual stage boost controller is at 12 and 20 psi. the lower for daily and the second for when an Evo or STi needs a spanking.

[runix3]

Hi folks,
Just thought I'd drop by and post a link for the MLS HG Groupbuy that is starting to take shape. Steve's(RacerStev) the one who's setting this up. Take a look at the thread and hopefully we'll get more people in on this.

http://www.isuzone.org/forums/showthread.php?t=22678

[CRAMBURY RS]

just an update, we have nearly 20 signed up.

[Dico]

Hi Crambury

Can you confirm 100% these gaskets will fit our UK Turbo'd Elan? And did you get a final price?

A very interesting thread you have going over there.
Cheers, Dico.

[CRAMBURY RS]

Hi Crambury

Can you confirm 100% these gaskets will fit our UK Turbo'd Elan? And did you get a final price?

A very interesting thread you have going over there.
Cheers, Dico.

i don't see why they would not fit. the head castings are identical, so are the blocks. only differences i know of in our engines are cams and lifters (which interchange), the intake plenum and emissions components. it is after all an isuzu engine code 4XE1WT. i have a pic of the OEM Isuzu HG and a CAD file below, you tell me if you can notice a difference if you have other images to compare it to it would help.

[Specky]

See here, we did it a while back, if you need a comparison check doing I have both OEM gaskets in my possession. It's easier to put one over the other to compare them.

viewtopic.php?f=37&t=16715&hilit=Gasket&start=20#p226790

TTFN

[racerstev]

I sent a OE Lotus gasket to the fellow. He's on the west coast of Austraia and is cleaning up after the flooding so hopefully we will
have a better idea what's going on soon as soon as he stops treading water! LOL

Poor guy, can you imagine dealing with that?

Steve

[Specky]

So his headgasket has a leak...

Oh the Irony...

TTFN

[JeffJ]

Harsh!

But rather amusing.

[CRAMBURY RS]

Poor guy, can you imagine dealing with that?

Steve

yep! when i lived in Florida, we got hit by hurricane Andrew in the mid 90's. luckily, we were on the west side in the gulf 50 miles south of tampa. homes are built 36-48" above the streets for a reason. we had 30" of water across most of town with ppl's basements filled neck deep.

[CRAMBURY RS]

Hi Crambury

Can you confirm 100% these gaskets will fit our UK Turbo'd Elan? And did you get a final price?

A very interesting thread you have going over there.
Cheers, Dico.

only difference i see from my CAD is the water jackets on the ends of the block by cyl. 1 and 4. i have an used HG for the RS at home in my parts car. i'll have to double check, but last i remember the ports were SUPPOSED to be round, not elongated to restrict water flow for the purposes of capturing/transmitting more heat from the block into the coolant.

my CAD looks EXACTLY like the GENUINE LOTUS gasket.

and from the thread link above:

While having a little trawl on the internet I did find this little gem and it is worth noting.

"PLEASE NOTE: The 4XE1 DOHC 1.6 liter Non-turbo, 4XE1 DOHC 1.6 liter Turbo, use DIFFERENT PATTERN HEADGASKETS. Water flow through the block is controlled by the shape and size of the water jacket openings in the head gasket.
Using a 1.6 liter Turbo on a 1.6 liter Non-turbo engine will result in engine temperatures too low for the oil to properly lubricate the engine, resulting in rapid bearing wear and engine failure.
Using a 1.6 liter Non-turbo on a Turbocharged engine will result in inadequate engine cooling, overheating, oil breakdown and lubricant failure, head warpage, cracks in the engine's water jacket, and destruction of the engine."

Which explains why there are two different head gaskets, modifying the gasket where the water ways are could be detrimental.
Also the part number for some of the aftermarket head gaskets is the same for the non turbo and the turbo engines, so it may they have not got the cooling quite right and this may lead to head gasket failure.

Bob

in short, looks like we can modify the TURBO gasket for an NA, just not the other way around. if the embossing of the port is made to the shape of the NA it will still seal and allow NA users to take a carbide bit to the gasket while maintaining a seal for their application.

funny thing is, i run 160F thermostat instead of the 180F OEM. so i will take the round ports to capture more heat until i upgrade my radiator and get back to an OEM thermostat.

[Dico]

Crambury's OEM Isuzu gasket



This is a used original turbo gasket, removed from my engine last year.(Picture is upside down. Just to confuse things ) - No IT ISN'T - I'VE MENDED IT (Pinky)

dico.jpg

I think (?) we are agreeing the new gasket you are having manufatured is identical.
Anyone disagree?

[bobbrown]

in short, looks like we can modify the TURBO gasket for an NA, just not the other way around. if the embossing of the port is made to the shape of the NA it will still seal and allow NA users to take a carbide bit to the gasket while maintaining a seal for their application.

I think there is a difference in gasket thickness but would probably need Specky to confirm the thickness of the NA gasket and then compare it to a Turbo one.
Also it is worth noting that the MLS gasket will not compress as much as a composite one, so allowances need to be made IF you want to retain the C/R
For example a reduction in gasket thickness by 0.2mm will increase the C/R on the NA from 9.8 to 1 to 10.0 to 1 and for the turbo car standard 8.5 to 1 and a reduction of 0.2mm will increase the C/R to 8.63 to 1 and the converse is true.
Probably not critical in the overall scheme of things but worth considering.
If my calculations are correct the NA has a combustion chamber volume including the gasket of 45cc and the turbo 53cc, a change in gasket thickness changes this by about 0.5cc per 0.1mm of gasket thickness.

[Specky]

I'll do a comparrison check this weekend once I leave the Northern Monkeys behind............... Hang on... that'd make me a southern fairy....



TTFN

[bobbrown]

or a Southern Belle

[racerstev]

Hold on a second, you are saying the heads are differant between the turbo and N/A engine? I've never
seen that on the Isuzu's over here, the differance was in the pistons not the head.


Also the only differance I see besides the 2 extra rubber seals is on the upper right. One gasket has a rubber seal
and a seperate hole from the head bolt hole. The other has no seal and the holes are simonized.


Steve