OK, not wanting to hi-jack the "95 SWB smells like coolant thread" (
95 SWB smells like coolant and blows air bubbles)
I have a couple of questions on replacing my head gaskets. Already posted this on rangerovers.net forum, but haven't got any actual answers there. Seening as the predominant topic here is head gaskets, I figure I'll try my luck here
Seems like the gasket blew at cylinder 1, between the coolant channel and the combustion chamber. Now I have the choice between going the original route of metal gaskets, or composite ones.
I am aware composite ones cost you a bit of compression, but I'm not worried about that. What I wonder though, is if I need to change anything else if I switch to composite gaskets:
1. Do the pushrods need to be replaced for longer ones, because the composite gasket is thicker, the distance from the camshaft to the rockers is larger? Or does the self adjusting nature of the hydraulic tappets take care of this?
2. Because of the reduced compression is the engine characteristic changed in such a way that the ECU needs to undergo re-chipping?
For completemess, it is a 1991 Vogue (non-US, same as Hunter in the US I believe) with the 3.9 efi engine. (14 head bolts, as opposed to the newer 10 bolt heads), compression ratio is the higher 9.35.
Another thing that puzzles me, is how the coolant flows out of the cylinder head into the intake manifold. According the the shop manual that is how it flows, but I can't see how when I look at the heads.
Thank you very much for any input.
