Hello from New Orleans!

[ukmole]

I have imported a 1988 LHD R4TL from Spain via UK. It is virtually rust-free (which is why I needed it) and has mostly original paint and interior.

Head gasket blew.
(waited a few weeks before-)
Got a head set from UK.
Started undoing things in anticipation. realised that I could cause more damage unless I did it by the book.
(waited a few more weeks until-)
WSM arrived from UK!
Looked at chapter 10 'Under no circs, special tool etc etc'
(waited one day then-)
Registered here to find out that no special tool is needed after all! Hurrah!

 

[pepper]

Welcome to the forum, I hope you manage to get your head gasket repaired promptly!

As I'm sure you're aware make sure nobody turns the engine over whilst the head is off or you'll disturb the liners which will then leak!

Most people tend to lock the liners in place with some bolts and washers whilst working to prevent such an occurrence happening by accident!

 

[ian Stanbury]

Do you know this chap - New Orleans based I believe?

He was the guest chef at a party we gave a while ago..

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-22226760

 

[ian Stanbury]

For those of you who don't know Paul Prudhomme..

He is a hugely well known celebrity chef in the States and he was so huge that he needed a battery scooter to transport him from the office front door to the place where we had our opening party - he had his own little area where he cooked some traditional New Orleans fare and it was ALL smothered in cream and every 2 minutes you could see him trying his cream sauce for taste, hence his 32 stone weight - one of his dishes was called Angry Prawns so as the host, I asked him in front of 150 people exactly how angry he thought the prawns were - His reply.."Not exactly angry but they are certainly really pissed off"..

A nice man though and many months later I was watching the Simpsons and they and the detective were in a restaurant in New Orleans and blow me Chef Paul had a cameo role and he was on his battery scooter there as well!!

 

[ukmole]

K-Paul..

I have never been to his restaurant, but he has a take-away seafood place (no seats) which is the best place in New Orleans to buy fresh, plump oysters (dribble dribble :-)) and of course he is often on local daytime TV doing his thing.. it's always a bit odd to see just his face behind the bench as he slides back and forth! Yesterday I went to my first trip to 'The Irish House' on St Charles and I had ...(wait for it)... 'Bangers and Mash' with onion gravy! My wife had the 'Full Irish' but I had to help her out with the black pudding and green bacon - yum!

Back to business: is the head torque 45lb? The book says so but I think it seems a bit light to me and in the light of it's previous failure I deduced that the head either wasn't tightened enough in the first place, or not re-tightened after 500 miles..