E31 Head Gasket

[bobc]

I've searched the archives and didn't find the answer to this one, although it was referenced several times.

MSA says the 70 e31 head gasket is NLA. However, also they say the newer gasket is the replacement part and will work fine. I just compared holes in the new gasket with the old one and there appears to be some significant differences in the water passages.

Anybody know if what MSA is saying is true? I'd like to make sure I've got the right gasket before I start bolting everything back together.

Thanks.

Bob

[bobc]

I checked with MSA today and they said I need to modify the gasket for the water channels that are blocked. Might have been easier if they told me that in the first place. I'm sure glad I didn't find that out after my newly assembled motor overheated!

Anybody have any experience with this?

Bob

[ozconnection]

Your engine wouldn't have overheated if the rest of the cooling system is properly maintained.

I have seen this several times when some brands of headgasket block off some of the smaller vent holes in the head/block.

A large percentage of the coolant should flow to the back of the engine to keep the rear cylinders 'temperature happy'. The 'small' holes are for the release of steam (and not bulk coolant flow), so steam pockets don't form and cause localized hot spots.