MHG Viton Hell....

[Sside]

I did an engine rebuild a few months ago and hardly ever drove the car because I did not remove the ridgets from the Titan HG so oil was getting into my coolant but not coolant into my oil. Anyways I am trying to reuse my MHG and have seen threads here on how to remove the viton but so far its been hell on removing it.... After flipping the MHG I saw that the viton still on there was not in bad shape. The top of the MHG I have already advanced somewht.. What do you guys think? Keep going till I get it all off or is it somewht possible I can put it back on as is.....

Here are pics of the MHG...

Top

Bottom

Bottom up close

Thanks alot in advanced.....
-Salvy

 

[jdub]

Doesn't really matter what everyone "thinks"...the old Viton has to be removed or it will not seal, regardless of how the old Viton "looks". That includes between the layers and it will have to be sprayed with copper sealer (between layers too) to replace the Viton. Sorry, but you are going to have to work at it. Paint thinner and a Scotch Bright pad seems to work the best for me.

Of course, you could always buy a new one

 

[Moy]

The Titan HG is a Cometic, and they are only about $100... replacing is the easiest/most time efficient option...

 

[rayall01]

Try oven cleaner. Worked for me.

 

[gofastgeorge]

I used CRC BrakeClean and a fine wire brush.
It helps if you make a 'pan' out of aluminum foil, and let it soak.

 

[isnms]

Are you sure you had rivet problem. Last Cometic I got looks like they corrected the issue. Other threads here say so too and looking at the indention of the head mark on your HG looks like there was no interference.

http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?p=961238&p961238

The TMS (Cometic) 1.4mm gasket that I recently installed had no "rivit interference".

The rivet that causes the problem is circled on the previous version, compared to yours. See how your tab sticks out further.

comparison image courtesy of Justin727
http://www.supramania.com/forums/showthread.php?p=75122&post75122



edit: sorry I just reread your post. Unless it was a typo; I don't know what a 'ridgets' problem is.

 

[Zumtizzle]

Can we see pics of your block?

 

[Sside]

Ah! yes I ment rivets... And yeah its a Titan(Cometic) MHG..... After laying the mhg down on the block again and checking to see if any of the rivets got in the way of the head sitting nice and flat I noticed the exhaust side rivets... The top and bottom ones seem to defently get in the way... Here are a few pictures of the block....

Top w/o mhg

Top with Mhg

Rear rivet

Front rivet

How it looked when I lifted head yesterday....

Close up of the mess

 

[Zumtizzle]

block prep looks proper.

Yea all of the Viton needs to come off.

 

[isnms]

It defiantly looks like you had a bhg, but -
Though the front rivet looks like it's laying on the block, the line in the gasket is the extent of the head so the rivet does not interfere with a flush seal.
I haven't heard anything of the rear rivet causing a problem, nor experienced it on my Cometic. (or anyother rivet on the revised design)

 

[rayall01]

It defiantly looks like you had a bhg, but -
Though the front rivet looks like it's laying on the block, the line in the gasket is the extent of the head so the rivet does not interfere with a flush seal.
I haven't heard anything of the rear rivet causing a problem, nor experienced it on my Cometic.

you have to remove all of them to clean the viton from the inner layers. When reinstalling, the guide pins do a good job of keeping the layers aligned. At least it worked in my case.

 

[Sside]

More Pics.....

Front rivet

Different angle

Back rivet

 

[isnms]

See, none of those rivets look compromised. If they had been in the way they would be squished.

you have to remove all of them to clean the viton from the inner layers. When reinstalling, the guide pins do a good job of keeping the layers aligned. At least it worked in my case.

Guess that's why getting a new one would be the better way to go. My time is worth more that what it would take to remove all the rivets, clean all the layers and hope I have completely aligned layers when done.

 

[jdub]

It looks like that front rivet is touching in the 3-5 o'clock position.

 

[Sside]

See, none of those rivets look compromised. If they had been in the way they would be squished.





Guess that's why getting a new one would be the better way to go. My time is worth more that what it would take to remove all the rivets, clean all the layers and hope I have completely aligned layers when done.

Hmmm... I have a stone HG that came with the engine gasket set I used.. I am thinking about using it now that it does seem like the MHG did not seal.. The power goals of this car are right around 350 hp at the wheel.... Alot of money did go to the machine shop thou in order to resurface head and block for a MHG....

 

[rayall01]

Be safe, remove any rivet that's at all questionable when you install a new MLS gasket.

 

[Sside]

I am leaning towards putting in the work of removing the viton off(all layers) right? JDub if you could please clarify this it would be much appriciated... I will also remove all rivets questionable and use copper spray for the reinstallation of the head ... Any more input would be great guys......

 

[jdub]

Remove all the rivets and the layers of a MHG will separate...clean both sides of each layer (keep them in order). When you install coat both sides of the bottom layer and lay it on the block with the index pins as a guide. Do the same thing for the remaining layers in order.

 

[IJ.]

Remove the rivets soak the layers in paint thinner and wash off the viton....

 

[Sside]

Hmm, after going bk to work on the MHG I noticed there was no Viton on the inside layers of my MHG..... My first initial expression was YAY!! then I was like whoa wait :/... Have any of yall noticed this on yall's MHG's?....