Should the head gasket block/cover waterways?

[dcallaghan2011]

Hi all, due to lots of smoke, poor starting and only running for short periods of time I have removed the head from the LJ so I could have a look around it. I found that some of the water ways were blocked from where the gasket had dissolved into it, should this be happening or is this the likely cause of the problem? pictures below should help me to explain.

Cylinder 1

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Cylinder 2

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Cylinder 3

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Cylinder 4

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[Darrell]

Should the head gasket block/cover waterways?

Looking at a new gasket, I'm going with yes.

[dcallaghan2011]

Ok thanks for that, it does look like I also had few blocked that shouldn't of been

[ScottieJ]

It's quite common for them to end up looking like that! I've just done a headgasket on a suzuki carry f10a that was in a similar state!

[juncopartner]

If the iron block looks that bad I'd check that the alloy head waterways arn't badly corroded, I've had a couple where the waterways were in pretty bad condition. Apparently the early SJ410 Santana heads were prone to it, but never had any spanish built SJ's so can't speak from experience. (What else can you expect from something out of a Land Rover factory!!!)

The blocked waterways shouldn't affect the running initially but it may overheat if theres not enough water circulation. There are products for cleaning out the coolant system ie Radflush. By the way when you refill with anti freeze, the pink long life stuff isn't suitable for older vehicles, apparently. Just found out after I been running round with it my Morris Minor for 6 months. Don't know why and neither did the bloke at the motor factor either. I would also reverse flush through the coolant system,radiator etc with a hose, and i would also remove the thermostat and flush it that way as well

Incidently your engine is an 800cc you can tell by the pistons, 970 ones have indents directly below the valves.

I know I've already said but just throw the 800 lump away and get a 970!!!

[Edweird]

The pink anti-freeze attacks hoses and seals in older cars. It's con't go in some newer cars too. I'm pretty sure all the Korean makers use blue.

[suzukisteve]

yeah funny enough my santana had corroded water ways in the head when i done the head gasket on it. i use a stronger anti freeze mix now to help prevent it getting any worse

[dcallaghan2011]

So, had a look at the head today and its not good, got some deep holes in places So I took it to my local engineering shop and they gave me of a price of £150 plus vat, which I didn't think was too bad as it includes all the welding a pressure test and a couple of skims. I should get it back about a week tomorrow and all will be hopefully as long as the block is ok. I have circled the damage on the pic below, I think it's probably worse than it looks.

Head

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[ScottieJ]

That doesn't look too pretty, if worst comes to the worst and they can't save it I have some heads in my workshop.

[dcallaghan2011]

Ok thanks, I'll keep that in mind but they said they should be able to sort it