I've just done head, base and stem seals. I was losing a litre per 400 miles from the front of the headgasket and blowing a little smoke. I bought a complete engine set of NE brand gaskets.The base was a perfect fit but the dreaded green colour. The head gasket cylinder openings were all about 1mm offcentre outboard of each cylinder and the holes for the dowels needed a bit of file work to drop cleanly onto the deck. The stem seals, I screwed up three of them tapping a socket too hard and bought an Athena set and replaced them all. The NE stem seals looked a bit lightweight compared to the Athena. Fitted them by hand pressure alone - safecracker style.
The top of the case and bottom of the barrels had a few scraping tool marks from the previous gasket job although the base was not leaking. As insurance I put two coats of aluminium paint on the base gasket. The head and top deck looked much better and the gasket went on dry. I was surprised to see machine tool marks on all four mating surfaces like an 8" facing cutter advancing at about 40 thou per rev, just about at fingernail limit.
Just over 200 miles up and looking good. Time will tell.
The top of the case and bottom of the barrels had a few scraping tool marks from the previous gasket job although the base was not leaking. As insurance I put two coats of aluminium paint on the base gasket. The head and top deck looked much better and the gasket went on dry. I was surprised to see machine tool marks on all four mating surfaces like an 8" facing cutter advancing at about 40 thou per rev, just about at fingernail limit.
Just over 200 miles up and looking good. Time will tell.