A lot of new engines use some sort of stretch head bolts that have to be replaced when you take the head off. But Datsun weren't up for that sort of crazyness!

it has instructions on the packet on how to install it
with L series you will only need to torque it once, in sequence so really 2 torques
but as the head bolts dont stretch you dont need to run it then retighten
just torque all the bolts to 65nm then to 83nm and it should be good

oh craap that must mean i got the ones that need retensioning Could be half my problem, head bolts didnt seem too tight but i didnt think anything of it at the time

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monotorque = one torque, so Id say you only tighten them down once.

yea i got the Lseries so might be able to find a genuine one still. Are the monotorque ones the ones that need retightning? Im only running 8psi still so im hoping it may have been a combination of #### gasket and overheating, bottom end looks fine/the same other than a non-carbon caked piston in cyl 1 from the water. I have never heard it ping either, ive heard of people running up to 30psi without Oringing etc.

I was told at my local dealer that genuine headgaskets were NLA. May or may not be true.

The guy at my local head shop said ACL monotorque was the go, rather than the other ACL (the one you got by the looks of it) I think monotorque uses blue sealant and the bad one uses red sealant

genuine head gaskets are the go, but will cost a bit.
permaseal also make good stuff. where i worked as a mechanic they used them and never had a car come back for one...
tomei is a japanese company that makes good stuff for A series'. they still sell head gaskets.

yea it was a $40 acl kit from sprints, it overheated from my own stupitity the first time (doing skids and got a litle carried away, private roads of course). The other time was when it used all the radiator fliud up from the above id assume. What brand is a good headgasket and were would i get one? For now another acl gasket will go back in so its ready for the weekend

that gasket looks absolutley funked!
i must have been a bit of a cheapy and looks to have warped under the pressure/heat.

my advice: skim the head (if it is do-able), buy a good quality head gasket. wet-and-dry the top of the block and reinstall.

i'd also be wondering why it over heated so badly... was it the driver or a mechanical fault. is the thermostat working properly?

JUST LOOK what happened to mine :


http://datsun1200.com/modules/myalbum/photo.php?lid=11567