2 replies to this topic

[TopGearRules]

Model: Rover Mini Mayfair
Year: 1991
Description of problem (please be as in depth as possible): Suspected head gasket fault



Any non-standard parts that might be involved with the problem? No

Hello there, i know this question has been asked to death but im having trouble collecting information on how to remove the head and replace the head gasket. Ive had all the symptoms, oil in coolant and low compression (really slows down on the motorway, cannot do over 50mph!). I need to change a few things in the engine anyway, and being a 90,000 mile car, i might as well replace it. This will be my first major job on my mini, so i need to know what im doing before i muck it up or something (helped with a K series head gasket change, but thats a completely different engine!).

I have the Haynes manual, so is there a section in purely removing the head and changing the gasket? Also, ive head you need to the clean the head before renewal, how would you do this and what do i need? I have seen the youtube videos on how to change a mini head gasket, but its a bit hard to follow!

Thanks, Alex

[L400RAS]

I have the Haynes manual, so is there a section in purely removing the head and changing the gasket? Also, ive head you need to the clean the head before renewal, how would you do this and what do i need?

Hi Alex,
Section 2A, part 7 is where you should look. (cylinder head removal and refit). Changing the gasket is the perfect time to have the valve guides re-done, valves re cut / seated and new valve stem oil seals put in. Cheap jobs for any local machine shop.

[lrostoke]

Haynes shoud explain it.

But in a nutshell


remove radiator top hose. and rad top bracket. And also drain some water out
remove front heater pipe
remove rocker cover
remove HT leads
remove engine top and bottom steadies. I do this so I can rock engine back and forth helps with manifold moving
disconnect vacuum advance pipe off carb
Not sure which manifold you have. But undo manifold from the head. It should be possible to move carb out of the road without disconnecting any cables.

remove the smaller of the rocker shaft nuts.

look in haynes it will give headbolt tightening sequence, undo in opposite order, but just crack off slightly first in that reverse order before fully undoing.

remove rocker shaft assy. then remove each push rod giving each a wiggle first to loosen from cam follower.

Use a piece of card and stick the pushrods thru it so you put them back in the correct holes.

If you have a byepass hose on right top of water pump, loosen one of the clips.

Head should now come off.

To clean head I use a wide flat blade scraper, and just clean off any gung carefully.
Then like mentioned above you've also got the option off redoing vlaves and stem seals.

When refitting slacken off all the tappet adjusting screws before tightening down the head.

The when finished readjust all valves.

Edited by lrostoke, 28 May 2011 - 03:54 PM.