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Ive taken off 1275 cc cylinder head to grind the valves and i noticed the bypass hose has been blanked off with a wooden plug and jubilee clip. There is no provision on the underside of the cylinder head to take a bypass hose and am wondering if this an original head.

Sounds like a later mini or metro A+ head. Post a photo of the area behind the thermostat. If it has pronounced ‘bars’ rather than being flat, it’s definitely a later head.

Thanks Iain,
Car is a 1991 model J plate, im wondering if Cylinder Head would have been changed to take account of Unleaded Petrol.

If the engine number is correct for the year then I suggest someone has fitted a water pump which has the bypass hose pipe instead one that hasn't (which would be correct for that year).

Thanks for that. On reassembling the engine should i use Gasket Sealant on both sides of the Cylinder Head Gasket. I have Granville Blue Gasket Sealant. Thanks.

Opinions vary... I tend to use a spray-on gasket sealant for AF460 style bare copper head gaskets, especially if the block and head surfaces are not freshly machined. I don't use any sealant for the BK450 composite type that have a shellac-like sealant already applied during manufacturing.

Thanks for that IAIN