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As per the title, which is better, old style copper gasket or a BK450 Payen Black gasket?

My engine is 1275 +30 with a big valve head. Unsure of the chamber size.

It took me a long time to "trust" a BK450, but eventually I had to use one & have been pleased with the results since.

m

tam1521 always

all the Irish rally boys use them, and ive never, ever done a head gasket when ive been using one.

even when my 1430 got WHITE HOT when it spewed all its coolant out it never had any issues

Copper every time.

Dad has used them all through his 55+ years in the trade and won't use anything else on an A series.

BK450 '/ TAM 1521 black' gasket always NEVER a failure , We stopped using Copper when the AHT188 with 'full fat' asbestos was outlawed and that was a while ago
G

BK450 (tam1521) Every time day in day out

Ive used them on all my motorsport activities (and road cars) and ive never done a head gasket even when i lost all my radiator fan blades and i was relying on the air coming through the grill to keep everything cool lol

Seems I'm out-voted

I asked as I have had both fail. I will try BK450 again.

There was a batch of duff Belgish Bk450s a couple of years ago. I had such fail on me, but never an English one.

Some of this is quite interesting, especially Spider's suggestion
of oil-stoning the surfaces flat before fitting the head...

viewtopic.php?f=3&t=9463

I am wondering how much "doing the head up too tight"
has to do with gasket life as well, as one I had to replace
looked quite "crushed" between No2 & No3...


Could it have been seriously weakened before it was even
fired up?

Ian

Copper Gaskets are rubbish these days

BK450 Turbo spec gasket are the best for most applications.

I use a Cometic gasket in our race engine now, but both the block & head need to be surface ground first.

Andrew1967 wrote:Copper every time.

Dad has used them all through his 55+ years in the trade and won't use anything else on an A series.

Vegard wrote:There was a batch of duff Belgish Bk450s a couple of years ago. I had such fail on me, but never an English one.

I've nearly always used the Copper Head Gaskets, I did try a few BK450's, they were unmarked as far as the Belguim / English bit goes, but none the less, they all failed, I know they have their following but IMO, they are rubbish, never again. They are also a heat insulator.

Cooper ones, used right won't give trouble, BUT as I've always said the preparation has to be 110% or you'll wish you'd never seen one.

Going OT, 850man, who's the charming young lady?

Spider wrote:
Going OT, 850man, who's the charming young lady?

Just some chick that was in a movie once..

https://youtu.be/5_sQ5Yjzpbs

850man wrote:

Spider wrote:
Going OT, 850man, who's the charming young lady?

Just some chick that was in a movie once..

https://youtu.be/5_sQ5Yjzpbs

Just to further the 'cat' theory;- Yes, I thought she was familiar

What great timing for this topic.

I hope to be bolting my head back onto my 1293 in the next couple days.
I purchased both a TAM1521 and a GEG300 and was not sure which one to fit.

Does the AF470 feature in this competition? Last time I redid a head I wanted to put on an AF460 Copper gasket but the section between #2 and 3 did not line up perfectly with the meat between the cylinders. Had an AF470 recommended by a mechanic and it line up perfectly.