Cylinder Head ID?

[RobMoore606]

I need to do a gasket change on my 1300, I notice from some of the threads that there appears to be two types of heads (recessed and non-recessed). Now I have a gasket ready but I am now worried I have the wrong one, is there a way to tell what head I have without actually taking it off?

[bodders1]

It's not the head that is recessed, it is the top of the bore in the block.  Blocks with recessed bores have a thicker fire-ring in the gasket.  It can be identified by looking at the gasket currently installed - if there is a rectangular tab sticking out of the rear-left corner of the gasket - (e.g sticking out between the head and the block just behind no 4 spark plug) then you have recessed bores.

Having said that, I'm pretty sure that this was a feature of 1500 blocks and didn't apply to 1300s (stand-by to be corrected  ;) )

[RobMoore606]

Thank you bodders

[Richard B]

bodders1 wrote:

Having said that, I'm pretty sure that this was a feature of 1500 blocks and didn't apply to 1300s (stand-by to be corrected  ;) )

::)

Stephanies Dolomite is a 1976 1300, and yes they do have recessed bores  8)


As most Triumph 1300's were made (and the models discontinued) before the recessed bores came out, there fairly un-common.



TBH I did not realise they made a Dolomite 1300 that late until she started searching for one as her first car. Fairly rare, but a good learner/first car.

[herald948]

I can only speak to US-spec. cars. Beginning with the 1972 model year, US-spec. Spitfires got a recessed-bore, low-compression version of the 1300 (identifiable by the "UE" suffix). Of course, by the 1973 model year, we'd gained the 1500 engine in Spitfires, and they also had the recessed bores in the block.

[Howard81]

I have a recessed bore 1300 engine, it was out of a 1974 Toledo

[thebrookster]

Also, post your engine number up, some of our more knowldeable members here may be able to advise from that. Unfortunately the only sure fire way to find this out is to take the head off!! It is entirely possible that you have a block that used to have a recess which a Previous Owner has skimmed to remove!!

As said, if you have the tag thingy mentioned above, you can be pretty confident. Otherwise, depending on who supplies your gaskets you may be able to have one of each on hand, with the understanding you can return the unwanted once you know what you have??