8 replies to this topic

[Noris8322]

Are the Group A head gaskets still available? Everyone seems to be out of stock

Any ideas?

[Cooperman]

I've never heard of a 'Group A' head gaskets. The head gasket was never a controlled item in motorsport, so why would a head gasket need to be homologated in 'Group A'. By the time 'Group A' came along the Mini was no longer a prime contender. The Minis mainly competed as 'Group 1' or 'Group 2' cars to the old FIA regulations.

In those days the copper-faced gasket was always used (AF460 now), but now the BK450 black composite gasket is widely regarded as the best.

[Cooperman]

I've never heard of a 'Group A' head gaskets. The head gasket was never a controlled item in motorsport, so why would a head gasket need to be homologated in 'Group A'. By the time 'Group A' came along the Mini was no longer a prime contender. The Minis mainly competed as 'Group 1' or 'Group 2' cars to the old FIA regulations.

In those days the copper-faced gasket was always used (AF460 now), but now the BK450 black composite gasket is widely regarded as the best.

The Group A gasket was for turbo engines, they have a proper fire ring or what ever it's called. To use them you need to have a groove machined around each cylinder............

Ah, that makes good sense as the Turbo engine was raced in Group A and if block machining was needed it would have needed homologation.
I've never been involved with race A-series turbo engines as they were only in Metros (I think).

[Noris8322]

The group A gasket was originally developed by Howley Racing back in the mid eighties for what was then part of the factory Rover Group racing effort - the Group A Metro Turbo. The development was based on the TAM1521 gasket, the fire ring was reinforced with an extra layer of metal rapped over the original ring.
The only problem is that the block needs machining to except the gasket and makes it useless for any other gasket

http://www.minispare...px|Back to shop

[Anders]

Hi Noris8322

I whas told by minispares.com that it was discontinued of production 2 years ago. I was lucky to find one who had ordered the wrong one and then by it from him.

good luck in finding one

Br

Anders

[Noris8322]

Cheers Anders, but I cant find one for love nor money. I've spoke to minispares centre, they cant find the tooling to make them.
It heard that they are popular in the US, so may have to find one over the pond

But if not, it now looks like I've got a block thats only fit for the bin!!

[Cooperman]

How deep is the groove in the block top? Maybe the block deck could be skimmed to remove the groove and pistons skimmed so that they just reached deck level at TDC. Just a thought as I don't know what the block machining involved.

[Noris8322]

Centred on each bore centre -

Fire ring recess OD in block top - 3.060"
Fire ring recess depth in block top - 0.027-0.029"

Edited by Noris8322, 23 July 2012 - 02:11 PM.

[Noris8322]