SteveSpitfire1500 Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Car now sounds like a tractor and lost a fair bit of power, and started to cook my legs because of all the hot gasses under the bonnet ! Can clearly see the gasket has blown on the downpipe so I've ordered this kit to fix it http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/3512.....e=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AITQuick question, what looks to be a copper gasket in the kit? , does this need any sort of sealant when it's fitted or do I just bolt it up tightly ? Thanks Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Velocita Rosso Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 No sealant. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Take off the manifold and downpipe.File both perfectly flat and make sure they mate together.Use a small amount of holts firegum on both sides of the gasket.Do up studs tightly.No more leakes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveSpitfire1500 Posted July 22, 2015 Author Share Posted July 22, 2015 OK, so different views . Maybe worth me putting some firegum on then? I notice it's only 4 quid at Halfords. I'll be really interested if getting this fixed stops the footwells of the car getting so hot? I've played around with the heater because I thought it was coming form there, but the valve is definately working to stop hot water coming into the heater, so I'm really hoping this will fix that problem too ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicmk1est Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 small tube of exhaust paste,,petrol garages sell them,apply both side and coat mani and exhaust,tighten up Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Richard B Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 What Ferny said. Worst case, the studs have snapped and have to be drilled out and Helicoiled. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
marktheherald Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 I used to keep several of those gaskets when I had the proper 1500 manifold in my Midge.....For ever blowing Eventually fitted a 1300 single pipe manifold and modified down pipe, problem solved. I have continued that set up in my 1500 engined Herald. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveSpitfire1500 Posted July 22, 2015 Author Share Posted July 22, 2015 Thanks for all the replies . I've also ordered the back clamp that holds the pipe about 2/3 of the way down the car as I've noticed that is missing, so I'm hoping that will stop it breaking again anytime soon, but yes sounds like a sensible idea to have some spares in case it goes again ! Not sure I'm up to doing any modifications, but I may ask DB Carbs in Nottingham to have a look next time it goes in. I was convinced I'd done some bad damage to it yesterday so was actually quite relieved when I could see what it was ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
piman Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Hello Mark, it sounds as if your flange(s) were not true, it's not a weak point generally. For what it's worth I never use any sealant or paste on such copper gaskets.Alec Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferny Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 The 1500 downpipe is know to be weak. I did what I posted and didn't have the gearbox mount - the only things holding it up were the manifold and silencer hanger. Never had any leaks on it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveSpitfire1500 Posted July 22, 2015 Author Share Posted July 22, 2015 Firegum purchased just now Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nang Posted July 22, 2015 Share Posted July 22, 2015 Quoted from piman Hello Mark, it sounds as if your flange(s) were not true, it's not a weak point generally. For what it's worth I never use any sealant or paste on such copper gaskets.Alec Agree with Alec, if the flanges are not parallel you'll never get a satisfactory seal, sealant or not.Tony. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
heraldcoupe Posted July 23, 2015 Share Posted July 23, 2015 The exhaust mount at the bellhousing makes matter worse, if you see the exhaust as a large lever, this puts a fulcrum point closer to the vulnerable joint. I was changing this gasket every 3000 miles on my wife's old Dolomite 1500, until I read about the problems caused by that mounting. Cheers,Bill. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveSpitfire1500 Posted July 28, 2015 Author Share Posted July 28, 2015 Well a bit of a bitch of a job (I'm learning all this stuff again) but I've managed to change the gasket, I didn't realise how noisy it had become, and a lot less hot round the legs now that all the exhaust gases are going out the back where they should be ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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