e16se 150.8 bhp at flywheel melting head gaskets

[jamesbray]

Just put a new head gasket in after melting the gasket between clynder 1 and 2

Old gakset only did 100mile from new

I haven't been back out in the car yet due to crap weather

I hope I don't melt this 1 as well.

Car has been set up on a rolling road but 25miles after head gasket melted.

Any body had this problem???

Can I get a competition head gasket?????

[Stuart]

What is the rest of the spec (ignoring bling bolt on bits :p )

[jamesbray]

e16se

standard head

standard block

arp con bolts

webber 45s

solid lifters

twin valve springs

hardened follower's


kent cam nvo082 ( 3250 7750 rpm)

Ashley 4 2 1 manifold and 2.5 inch system

standard 1.2 dizzy

all the rest including eng internals are new and rebuilt engine has only done 100 mile since I built it up. all engine honing and skimming done at ian myres engine rebuilders

[Stuart]

no offence, but a very odd combo to manage 150bhp, but that as an aside, you have the iddues with it eating gaskets.

has it eaten a 2nd gasket, or are you just ovelry paranoid now?

[Andy]

You say standard but then mention skimming.what has been skimmed?

[jamesbray]

the head and block have been skimmed, not sure how much I had them done as well as having the bores honed at ian myres engine rebuilders in York.

I all so have a lighted fly wheel not sure how much was taken of this ether.

[jamesbray]

no only done 1 head gasket just wanted to know if any body has had this problem. yes not really wanting another head gasket to melt

[Stuart]

Could have been a few things, like not torquing the head down enough or too much, a genuine duff gasket, dirt, detonation/hotspots etc.

I'd run with it and see what happens

[Andy]

Theres a stage of torquing to do after normal temp has been reached.did you do that?

[jamesbray]

no I did not

[jamesbray]

Dyno meter report

max power @ wheels 122.3bhp @ 6657rpm
max power @ engine 150.8bhp @ 6853rpm
max torque 127.4 lbft @ 4985rpm

[jamesbray]

that is my plan if I have another go then I may need your help working it out, is there any chance it could have any thing to do with the way it has been set up??

[Andy]

Id say its more to do with not following the correct tightening procedure personally.

[jamesbray]

Dynamometer Report

max power @ wheels 122.3bhp @ 6657 rpm
max power @ engine 150.8bhp @ 6853 rpm
max torque 127.4 lbf t@ 4985rpm

[jamesbray]

well I went with what auto data recommend but there was nothing about re torqueing the head after running

[jamesbray]

do you have the settings???

[Andy]

Its in the haynes manual.i dont have it to hand

[paul james]

Working from the middle outwards:

Stage 1 - 25nm
Stage 2 - turn further through 60 degrees
Stage 3 - turn further through 60 degrees
Stage 4 - turn further through 60 degrees

run the engine up to temperature

Stage 5 - turn further through 30 degrees


The last part was an update from Vauxhall because of reported head gasket issues, its only the later manuals that mention it.

[jimbob-mcgrew]

does it have an adjustable cam pulley ? ... as if the head and the deck have both been skimmed, the mechanical timing will be out if using a standard one.

also, the pistons might be contacting the gasket ? ... (if the gaskets too close a fit)

[Andy]

If theyre doing that then its the wrong gasket entirely lol

[jamesbray]

yes it has an adjustable pulley. I no my piston does not come up that far seen as I rebuilt the engine and had it back in bits, I am sure I would of noticed if the piston came above the block and there are no marks on the old gasket. as for timing issue's not sure, but if fell very confident in what motor scope Northallerton have done when they set it up.

so far there seems 2 be a lot of people and talk about head torqueing most likely being the cause, or hopefully a crap gasket.

I am hopefully going out in the car this weekend I will keep you all informed.

thanks again for your help

[jimbob-mcgrew]

If theyre doing that then its the wrong gasket entirely lol

could have been.
might have needed a 0.5 oversize gasket or something.
ive seen it before on a straight 6 engine, the pistons had clipped the gasket on 2 of the 6 cylinders. they were rolled upwards at one side.

[jimbob-mcgrew]

there are no marks on the old gasket.

so far there seems 2 be a lot of people and talk about head torqueing most likely being the cause, or hopefully a crap gasket.

sounds like the right size in that case. :thumb:
hope you have better luck with another gasket.

[garyc]

ARP headstuds are what you want!

[gitters27]

ARP dont do them for a 8v do they??? im sure i once saw civic ones fit tho

[Stuart]

All you need is the right length and diameter....


iirc the ARP rod bolts tend to come labeled for a fiesta lol

[Jonesfach]

Many moons ago when I had my sport engine rebuilt, I had a head gasket go not long after the rebuild, it was by a professional builder who I completely trusted. I got a new gasket and changed it myself and it has been fine every since(20 years).

I put it down to a bad gasket in the end, but like you was wandering if something was wrong with the build etc, not that it was anything out of the ordinary if you know what I mean.

[tom reid]

Have you cleaned out the head bolt holes in the block?

[mowgli]

Did the water pump get renewed? Has the rad been flushed out? It could be overheating

[boffer8]

ARP headbolts are available for 8v engines, they are listed for honda B16 im sure

[BRoadGhost]

Indeed; G had a 150bhp 8V 1600 N/a and that would just lift heads (destroying them) until ARP head studs were used.

[jamesbray]

all sorted I replaced the head gasket, made sure the head was not warped using a strait edge and feeler gauge, cleaned all surfaces and made sure that the torque setting were 100 present right. I have used a BGA head set and so far so good,

the answer to has it got a new water pump is yes I have replaced just about every thing under the bonnet for new, cheers for all your help if I still have problems I will track down some uprated head bolts.

yes I am thinking that is the problem I believe the head is lifting, and that is causing the gasket to have a small air gap and making the gasket easy to melt.

3rd head gasket now and new standard bolts. 60 miles so far and all good

I will keep you all posted on how I get on

1ns again cheers for all your help:):)