39 replies to this topic

[jamiestevenbell]

im sure med sell a dry decking kit!

[Wil_h]

I was having heating issues with my engine using the SC 7-port head, especially number 4 (as is always the case).

I dry decked it, except I left the 3 centre water ways open. Worked a treat.

[TopCatCustom]

This is a bit old, Will I'm thinking exactly the same. I like the thought of having a couple of mid-way water passages to let some of the cooler water get around the end of the head that would otherwise be only getting the hottest coolant after it's been heated by all 4 cylinders and the far end of the head.

If that makes sense. I've got a dry deck kit (hose and adapters) now so just waiting to measure up the sizes for the blanking plugs.

[Wil_h]

Should have checked age of thread. Had been up all night working and was a bit dazed when I responded. All my plugs are just threaded bar, screwed in tight and sealed with high temp epoxy.
I've only sealed the block.

[TopCatCustom]

Was it the 3 bigger holes you left open or some of the tiny vents as well Will?

[Wil_h]

When looking at the block as fitted to the car, I left open the two centre holes at the front and the single one at the rear. The holes in my head are quite small so there was a natural restriction. Most of the flow is via the new hose.

[mini13]

I put holes in my plugs to prevent any trapped air (at least thats the idea) just threaded brass plugs with a small hole. if I ever need them out to run a std head I can just tap a torx bit into them and un wind them.

[TopCatCustom]

Nice, almost exactly what I had planned a while ago! Also lets some of the cooler water into the head so it doesn't all have to take the long hot route :)

[HUBBA.HUBBA]

Can you dry deck an spi head, or do you need the the normal by pass type as well as the kit at the other end?

Hello?

[Leonrjohnson]

I did this to my 970 S engine, and dont have a problem at all, works well. No thermostat, but use a blanking sleeve and blanked off bypass tubes.

https://plus.google....2417?banner=pwa

Here is a link to my photos of the dry deck. Had to modify the bottom core plug because it is a Pre A+ block.

Edited by Leonrjohnson, 16 August 2014 - 01:30 AM.

[69k1100]

There is a thread floating around with some nice pictures of the Westlake mkIV head and the setup they came up with for dealing with overheating.

http://mk1-forum.net...php?f=3&t=10199

Edited by 69k1100, 16 August 2014 - 03:23 AM.

[Ethel]

Can you dry deck an spi head, or do you need the the normal by pass type as well as the kit at the other end?

Hello?

I don't see why not. Google up some images, I imagine there'll be dry decked race Minis running without any heater plumbing and Metros which are very similar to SPI's.

[Leonrjohnson]

I have dry decked an AEG163 as well as a 12G940 with no trouble. Fitted a blanking sleeve in place of a thermostat in both of them, and blanked off the bypass in both head and water pump. Works a treat.

[Captain Mainwaring]

Should have checked age of thread. Had been up all night working and was a bit dazed when I responded. All my plugs are just threaded bar, screwed in tight and sealed with high temp epoxy.
I've only sealed the block.

 

 

Would that not be a bit of a wasted effort? Surely the gasket can still fail between head waterways and an oilway or a bore?

[69k1100]

The point of dry decking isn't to stop the head gasket failing, it's to reduce risk through coolant losses or hydraulically locking the engine and to better control cooling the head. The amount of the oil going through the head and the viscosity means it won't bother the engine during a head gasket failure.