Lancia Volumex Head Gasket

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baldy
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Lancia Volumex Head Gasket

Post by baldy »

Hi,
I am busy rebuilding a standard Lancia Beta Volumex Engine and trying to get it going as economically as possible. What is my best option for a cylinder head gasket? On the Guy Croft price list I am not sure which ones are suitable and I don't really want to buy new head bolts. This is the first time the head has been off so the bolts should be fine to reuse. I don't want to waste money buying a full race gasket when it wont be needed.

Regards
Laurence
Guy Croft
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Post by Guy Croft »

Hello Lawrence

We're all for saving money.

But - the Vx OE gasket just happened to be equivalent in composition and strength to what I would want on a 'full race' normally aspirated engine. And quite right too, do you realise that even the std Vx produced 152lbf ft torque? A very well sorted 8v full race 2liter would give about 156.

Torque means high cylinder pressure and more heat thus - use the best gasket you can get. Note that even with that fabulous gasket - the Vx was notorious for detonating & blowing the gasket at the back of the head where it was hottest and got the leanest fuelling.

What else would you use on the Vx? Something weaker? Other than something equivalvent to the old Fiat -Lancia Astadur gasket (eg the Payen Delta Turbo one, which is the only one I can get) - and you don't want to change the bolts?
I'm not sure what to say really. If someone says 'Spesso do one' good luck - there seem to be some problems getting Spesso gaskets at present, I do not know the reason although I have a friend in Milan who knows them very well.

GC
Julian
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Post by Julian »

Spesso gaskets are currently available through my good friend Trevor Nicosia (http://www.nyssaracing.com). He was handed the franchise when the previous recumbent sold up. He may not have one in stock but can obtain them - if you want to go down that route.

Personal experience would lead me to the Payen gaskets (we tried more than a few out with my race engine) and they proved themselves very good indeed. The original Fiat gaskets (should you be able to find one) should not be dismissed as these too have proven to be very good.

I did use Spesso gaskets previously as I was rebuilding at least part of the old race engine after ever meet and they are easier to remove and clean up after.

Listen to Guy about the head bolts - I've been hit very hard on this front and it all seems to be down to a mis-translation in the Fiat workshop manuals. I don't know about the older twincams but certainly all of the other Fiat engines use stretch bolts. The manuals all say they are reusable but this is just a shortcut to a lot of misery. Interestingly they also give different head bolt torque settings for different variations on the same engine - for some reason the smaller engines were listed with lower torque values and those same engines tend to develop a lot of blown head gaskets *after* the original is replaced. If you go back to the source there are no differences and the bolts are listed as non-reusable (and you wonder why Fiat developed such a bad reputation in the UK).

The same problem exists with the rod bolts on some models just to make things more interesting.
baldy
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Joined: July 4th, 2006, 9:19 am
Location: Cape Town
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Post by baldy »

Hi Guy,
Thanks for the response, Is this the gasket from your price list that you are refering to?
"Head gasket Delta Turbo 1.6 suitable all non rev port
84mm bore TC to full race normally aspirated or up to 12 psi boost"

And then with that you recommend I use these head bolts?
"Bolts ¢‚¬Å“ head 12.9 grade race, forged head, rolled thread, 8v TC set"

Are the "LATE OE (LONG) DOWELS" just used when you fit the cylinder head?

Regards
Laurence
Guy Croft
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Post by Guy Croft »

That is the one I would use, Laurence, and the bolts I'd use too.

If this leads to an order to me or anyone else please use e mail, I am at croftengines@aol.com.

Members - you will understand very readily that it really is not easy for me to recommend some parts and also be impartial, especially if it is a specialist GC part. I'll so my best, if I really would use something I sell I will say so and you can make up your own mind.
But I do not want Q & A to become blurred by sales pitches by me or anyone else.

There is a sales and wants section - you can post there and a vendor can reply, no worries.

[Julian - quick note: that OE Vx gasket (also used on 130TC) has been 'no longer available' (NLA) from Fiat here or in Italy for over 4 years.]

GC
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