FW: Ideas and inputs

[Mike Wattam <101714.1343@domain.elided>]

Sorry about delay in replying, have been 'away' with no pickup of e-mails,
tut tut.

The steel bolts referred to are I hope stainless steel.  These presumably
are the long studas in the heads they are wishing to replace and provided
they are strong enough to take the torque, I see nothing against  this. 
However, should they seize in the heads (which the mild steel ones do) then
you got real big problems.

The so-called 'German' timing chains are variously alleged to be
'pre-stretched' or 'bushed' or other claims to improve longevity.  Like
Tony Hart, I don't really believe they offer advantages as the standard
chains last very well if correctly set up.  I had the standard chain in a
highly tuned Dolomite (Slant 4) for 50k miles and it was good still when I
took the head off.  I took the standard timing chains out of my Stag at
around 50k miles, and they too are in perfect condition - I renewed them on
both cars as a matter of course however.

As to the reasons why your head gaskets went to meet their maker, I am
guessing.  Perhaps radiator clogged up allowing overheating and causing
steam pockets to form at the rear of the engine, pushing out water (thus no
temperature guage indication soon enough), local overheating around the
heads and goodbye head gaskets.  In any event, have your radiator core
cleaned out thoroughly, check the thermostat and make sure the inside of
your cylinder block is thoroughly cleaned out - muck collects in the bottom
of the 'vee' and causes local hot-spots which also lead to the above.

The head gaskets.  Well, check the old ones which came off, if they are
standard thickness (about 0.030") the nfit standard gaskets.  The thick
gaskets are only for when the head has been skimmed a lot and it is
necessary to fit thicker gasket to stop the valves and pistons kissing each
other.   The 'thick' gaskets are .020" thicker.

Hope above helps

Mike Wattam
Triumph Stag Register