Gasket Paper

[terryp]

I know I live in France but beleive it or not I have been trying to get a thermostat gasket for 2 or more weeks. I have 1 coming from Susan Miller, 1 originally from Susan Miller ended up at my parents in Littlehampton and then posted to me and another from Caterham Cars
None of the 3 have arrived and I need it urgent. Am I trying too hard!!!

The question is , can I make a gasket out of any old paper? or does it have to be special paper/card? I remember once a long time ago someone saying that I could make one out of a cornflake packet?

Thanks
Terry

[alan]

Hi Terry,
as you know i also live in France near Chartres. If i need some gasket material i buy some from MORIZE a car parts supplier. If you look maybe there is one near you or perhaps ATAC car spare parts. If not maybe Serge or Fran?ois or one of the others will make a donation at Whit w/e. It's a pity but i already have a B.B.Q. planned so i can't come with Big Lo ( my Elan +2/130) to make a Magnificent Seven.
i hope you all have a good w/e together
Alan.B

[rgh0]

A suitable loctite gasket maker is all you need. The actual gasket is common to almost all English cars and many other of the period from the 50's to the 90's so should not be to hard to find even in France

cheers
Rohan

[69S4]

I was in a similar position last summer when I needed a gasket for the fuel tank sender. I normally keep a couple of sheets of gasket paper but couldn't find them so I used the side of a cereal packet. A bit of gloop both sides and it was fine - no leaks. For various reasons the sender was in and out a few more times but the cereal gasket was fine. To date no leaks, weeps or petrol smell.

I personally wouldn't have a problem with using a cereal packet for the thermostat housing and have made them out of gasket paper, but one thing you can be certain of is that La Poste will deliver the correct one five minutes after you've cut up the cornflake packet and refilled the rad.

[GrUmPyBoDgEr]

I was in a similar position last summer when I needed a gasket for the fuel tank sender. I normally keep a couple of sheets of gasket paper but couldn't find them so I used the side of a cereal packet. A bit of gloop both sides and it was fine - no leaks. For various reasons the sender was in and out a few more times but the cereal gasket was fine. To date no leaks, weeps or petrol smell.

I personally wouldn't have a problem with using a cereal packet for the thermostat housing and have made them out of gasket paper, but one thing you can be certain of is that La Poste will deliver the correct one five minutes after you've cut up the cornflake packet and refilled the rad.

I have made many Gaskets in the same way in the past.
My Dad taught me how to do it by holding the paper or thin card over the part to be sealed & lightly tapping around the profile with a Ball Pein (SP.?) Hammer.
Result, a perfectly matching Gasket.
Blue Hermatite sealant was the order of the day.(He could borrow it from Work )
Tough times back then, Dad only bought Cylinder head Gaskets, everything else was Home made & worked.

John

[terryp]

Thanks for all the replys!
I am going to give La Poste one more day then if I can't get some gasket paper locally I may have to eat 10 bowls of cornflakes, or would museli be better or use Rohan Loctite method

Alan- yes its a shame, but I will take loads of pictures of the 6 (!!!) +2s and post them here.

All the best
Terry
PS the gasket is for the Caterham, have I been naughty posting the question?

[Jason1]

http://www.frost.co.uk/item_Detail.asp? ... &subCatID=

Frost still do it, see link above.

Jason