Any experiences with spesso head gaskets

Bertspeed,

Not a great deal of use for you now, but attached path shows some comparison of the Spesso and Erling head gaskets from Superformance. I went for the latter, including warming the engine and re-talking as described. Not had any problems after several years and several 1000 miles.
http://www.ferrarichat.com/forum/206-246/228842-cylinder-head-removal-2.html

Both gasket types should be OK provided all surfaces flat, clean and no damage caused around the studs.

Not sure what to suggest. Even if you can narrow down where the leak is coming from (observation or compression test etc) it does not solve the problem. You may well have to lift the head again.

Kevin

 

As David said, the Erling gasket set is the better one to have but the Spesso is still OK. Its a gasket and like any other gasket it needs a good mating faces to form a seal.

In my opinion it is not absolutely necessary to retighten the heads studs if done correctly from the outset. Despite popular thought, they don't loosen up so long as the head is cold when you do it.

You need to re-check the heads unfortunately, corrosion around the waterways can be a problem on dino heads. Its possibly not the gasket but more to do with the face of the heads.

You need to get it right as you can destroy these heads if they boil over. It may be a bit of grief now but it worth going back a bit, explore all avenues beforehand though.

 

NEVER EVER PUT SEALANT ON A HEAD GASKET

 

sealant CAN be used its no problemas, change the head studs!!

 

I thought I had learned that sealant on a head gasket just creates another layer that can be penetrated.

 

so you're saying it does not work with any sealant??

 

On the Ford and Chevy engines I've rebuilt, no sealant - none called for, none used. On my Lotus Twin Cam the repair manual called for a copper sealant - I applied it. No leaks in any of the engines...
The point is, start with the repair manual or contact the supplier. It is not a "one size fits all". But then, if my engines had leaked, I'm sure I would have tried different alternatives.

 

No I am not, have not tried with a sealant, so cannot say.
It may be a good point of discussion.
Which sealant do you use?

 

I had to laugh a little bit. "Spesso" means "often" or "frequently" in Italian. Perhaps it's a prediction on how often you can expect to change head gaskets?

 

On general gaskets for other cars... it depends on what type of gasket you use.

Erlring make these to OE ferrari specifications and you must not use a sealant on them...period.

Other types may be OK but are we not talking Dino HG here?

 

Yes that is funny. Its good humor. Growing up in England I could never understand how Lancia could release the "Dedra". Only the local Greek mechanic did't laugh. This right after the, its worse not "Beta", which as you may remember was shedding rust even before it hit showrooms.

 

sealant is good to use on elring gasket

 

Don't tell junior doc!!

 

you can not learn an old dog to sit