Head Gasket Thickness

[Penngwyne]

At what point in head thickness do you have to use the .3 mm thicker gasket?

Bentley manual implies 125 mm is the thinnest which I am very very close to.

Opinions, facts, experiences, sob stories, anyone?

[Penngwyne]

Yes!

The Bentley manual says (sic) "If the head has been machined fit the thicker gasket" No equivocation there.

Bugger!

I should have ordered it with my other bits from Pelican Parts

[witeshark]

Thanks for following up!

[Penngwyne]

A new head will be 125.1 mm +-0.1 So that would mean the minimum height for a standard gasket to be fitted would be 125.0 mm?? However maybe there are other considerations re compression etc.

My head seems slightly off as it is 125 on one end and 124.98 on the other.I hope .02 of a mm won't hurt.

If the head is less than 124.7 you throw it away.

So the best case is you can remove .5 mm and the worst case you can remove .3mm from a new head before it is stuffed.

My head has had 2 resurfacing jobs done so I hope it lasts for a long time.

[Penngwyne]

Starting to go back together now
Been VERY careful with timing marks, but it doesn't seem too complicated.
Has anyone made a gauge for torquing up the head bolts?
I'm thinking of making something up with a protractor but there isn't a lot of room between all the the rockers and head bolts so if someone has a better idea??

[witeshark]

You are using new head bolts right?

[Penngwyne]

Ohhh yes! Using new everything almost.