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Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 UK-Made Head Gasket

Posted: Monday, 8 June 2026 @ 08:00
Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 six-cylinder engine

A Better Head Gasket Choice for Six-Cylinder Healeys

Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 head gasket options at a glance

Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 Head Gasket Options at a Glance

Main focus
ENG602P, the UK-made cylinder head gasket for Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 six-cylinder engines
Best suited to
Road cars, repairs and restorations where owners want a higher-quality gasket made to original specifications from original tooling
Made for
Austin Healey BN4, BN6, BN7, BT7, BJ7 and BJ8 six-cylinder Big Healey models
Need the full set?
ENG601PSET includes the UK-made ENG602P head gasket and the upper-engine gasket set for BN4 chassis 48863 through BJ8
Other six-cylinder options
ENG602A is the standard replacement gasket, while ENG602C is the MLS multi-layer steel competition gasket

Introduction

When the cylinder head comes off an Austin Healey 100-Six or 3000, the gasket choice deserves more thought than simply ordering the cheapest part that fits. The head gasket sits right at the centre of the repair, so it needs to match the way the car is used and the standard of work going into the engine.

The new Austin Healey Head Gasket - UK Made gives BN4-BJ8 owners a higher-quality cylinder head gasket option, manufactured in the UK to exact original specifications from original tooling. It is aimed at standard six-cylinder road engines where reliability, correct specification and confidence in the repair matter more than race-only engineering.

For a real-world reminder of how quickly a head gasket problem can interrupt a trip, read how A H Spares helped get an Austin Healey 100 back on the road after a blown head gasket. Different engine, same lesson: the right gasket matters when the head has to come off.

Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 UK-made cylinder head gasket

The Solution: ENG602P UK-Made Head Gasket

The Austin Healey Head Gasket - UK Made is a single cylinder head gasket for BN4-BJ8 six-cylinder engines. It is manufactured in the UK to exact original specifications from original tooling, giving owners a higher-quality option for standard engine repair, maintenance and restoration work.

This is not the competition MLS gasket, and it does not need to be. ENG602P is for the owner who wants the right gasket for a road-going six-cylinder Healey, with proper specification behind it and without moving into a race-focused choice.

  • Fits Austin Healey BN4, BN6, BN7, BT7, BJ7 and BJ8 six-cylinder models
  • Manufactured in the UK
  • Made to exact original specifications from original tooling
  • Supplied as a single cylinder head gasket
  • Suitable for standard road-going six-cylinder engine applications
  • Useful for repairs, restorations and careful engine maintenance

View UK-Made Head Gasket

Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 cylinder head gasket centre bore detail
Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 cylinder head gasket end bore detail

Choose the Right BN4-BJ8 Head Gasket

ENG602A, ENG602P and ENG602C are all made for Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 six-cylinder Big Healey engines. The real choice is how far the repair needs to go: a standard replacement, a higher-quality UK-made gasket for a more considered road rebuild, or an MLS competition gasket for engines built to work harder.

Main recommendation: UK-made head gasket

Austin Healey Head Gasket - UK Made

Part: ENG602P

Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 UK-made cylinder head gasket

Application: BN4 to BJ8 six-cylinder Big Healey models

Best for: Owners rebuilding, repairing or maintaining a standard road engine who want the higher-quality gasket choice.

If the cylinder head is already off, this is the “do it properly while you are there” option. ENG602P gives Austin Healey 100-Six and 3000 owners a UK-made gasket manufactured to exact original specifications from original tooling, making it a more reassuring choice for careful repairs and long-term ownership.

  • Made in the UK to exact original specifications from original tooling
  • Well suited to road cars, regular use and thoughtful restorations
  • A stronger choice when the repair is being done with long-term reliability in mind
  • Ideal when the engine is standard but the quality of the rebuild still matters

Other six-cylinder head gasket options

Standard Head Gasket

Part: ENG602A

Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 standard cylinder head gasket

Application: BN4 to BJ8 six-cylinder Big Healey models

A standard replacement gasket for straightforward, non-performance road use. It suits repairs where the aim is to replace the gasket and return the engine to normal service without moving up to the UK-made original-tooling option.

  • A practical replacement for general road-going engines
  • Suitable when the job calls for a standard gasket at a standard specification
  • Best kept to straightforward repair work rather than higher-output or competition use
  • For a more considered rebuild or restoration, ENG602P is the stronger choice

MLS Competition Head Gasket

Part: ENG602C

Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 MLS competition cylinder head gasket

Application: BN4 to BJ8 six-cylinder Big Healey models

The MLS multi-layer steel option is for engines built for sustained higher loads, competition or demanding performance use. It is the serious-engine-build route rather than the usual choice for a standard road car.

  • Designed for competition and high-performance engine builds
  • Suitable where the engine specification calls for MLS construction
  • Best matched to builds where sustained load and output justify the gasket choice
  • More specialised than most standard road-going BN4-BJ8 engines require

One Head Gasket Range, Two Gasket Set Routes

For the cylinder head gasket itself, the choice is straightforward. ENG602A, ENG602P and ENG602C all fit Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 six-cylinder Big Healey engines. Choose between them by specification, not by model range.

The complete cylinder head gasket sets need a little more care because they include the inlet and exhaust manifold gaskets. Early BN4 engines used a 2-port cylinder head, while later BN4-BJ8 engines used a different cylinder head design. That means the full gasket set must match the cylinder head fitted to the engine.

  • Choosing the head gasket only? ENG602A, ENG602P and ENG602C all fit BN4-BJ8 six-cylinder engines.
  • Choosing the higher-quality road gasket? ENG602P is the UK-made option, made to exact original specifications from original tooling.
  • Choosing a complete gasket set for an early BN4? Use the early BN4 set for the 2-port cylinder head arrangement.
  • Choosing a complete gasket set for later BN4-BJ8? Use the later set for BN4 chassis 48863 through BJ8.
  • Working on a BN1 or BN2? These four-cylinder Austin Healey 100 models use their own dedicated gasket range.
Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 UK-made head gasket Made in England detail

A Better Gasket Still Needs Proper Preparation

A higher-quality gasket is not a shortcut around good engine work. Before fitting, the cylinder head and block faces should be clean, flat and free from old gasket material, corrosion or damage.

Published Austin Healey 3000 Mk. III service data gives the cylinder head nut setting as 75 lb ft, approximately 102 Nm or 111.61 kg/m. Tighten in the correct numbered sequence shown in the Austin Healey six-cylinder factory workshop manual, working from the centre outwards rather than simply moving around the head.

For BN4-BJ8 engines, always check the relevant factory workshop manual for the full procedure before assembly, especially if studs, washers or other fixing hardware have been removed or replaced. Guesswork and cylinder heads are not known for being close friends.

  • Check cylinder head and block mating faces before assembly
  • Inspect studs, nuts, washers and threaded holes before reusing hardware
  • Follow the workshop manual tightening sequence rather than tightening around the head in order
  • Renew coolant and engine oil where required after reassembly
  • Use sealant only where specified by the gasket instructions or workshop procedure

Need a torque wrench for the job?

Cylinder head work needs controlled, repeatable tightening. A calibrated torque wrench is the right tool for the job, particularly when working to a 75 lb ft cylinder head nut setting.

View Torque Wrench Set

Head Off? Check the Cylinder Head Before Refitting

If the cylinder head is already off the engine, take the opportunity to check whether it is ready to go back into service. A good gasket still depends on clean, flat mating faces and a sound cylinder head.

Does your cylinder head need more than a gasket?

If inspection shows the existing head needs more than a clean, check and refit, a reconditioned exchange cylinder head is the straightforward road-going option for BN4-BJ8 six-cylinder engines.

The exchange route keeps the job practical: fit the reconditioned head, return your old cylinder head, and the exchange surcharge is refunded once the returned head has been received.

Austin Healey BN4-BJ8 reconditioned exchange cylinder head

Reconditioned Cylinder Head - Exchange

Application: BN4 to BJ8 six-cylinder Big Healey models

Reconditioned exchange cylinder head with unleaded valve seats, new valves, guides and core plugs. A refundable exchange surcharge applies until your old cylinder head has been returned and received.

View Exchange Head

Austin Healey 100/4 Head Gasket Options

Working on an Austin Healey 100/4 instead? BN1, BN2 and 100S engines use dedicated four-cylinder head gaskets, so choose from the options below rather than the BN4-BJ8 six-cylinder range.

Working on a four-cylinder Austin Healey?

BN1, BN2 and 100S engines use their own four-cylinder head gasket range. If you are working on an Austin Healey 100/4 or 100S, start with the dedicated options below rather than the BN4-BJ8 six-cylinder gaskets.

Austin Healey 100/4 blown cylinder head gasket

Standard BN1-BN2 Head Gasket

Application: BN1 to BN2

Standard type cylinder head gasket for Austin Healey 100 four-cylinder engines.

View BN1-BN2 Gasket

MLS Competition BN1-BN2 Gasket

Application: BN1 to BN2

High-performance MLS multi-layer steel cylinder head gasket for Austin Healey 100 four-cylinder applications.

View MLS Gasket

100S Competition Head Gasket

Application: Austin Healey 100S

Competition head gasket for Austin Healey 100S models only.

View 100S Gasket

Frequently Asked Questions

Are studs, nuts, washers or sealants included with the head gaskets?
No. The gaskets are supplied as they are. Studs, nuts, washers, sealants, coolant, oil and other consumables should be checked and ordered separately where required.
Do I need the head gasket only or the complete gasket set?
Choose the head gasket only if that is all the job requires. Choose the complete UK-made head gasket set if the upper-engine gaskets are also being renewed, as the set includes the UK-made head gasket.
Do these six-cylinder head gaskets suit BN1 or BN2 Austin Healey 100 models?
No. BN1 and BN2 Austin Healey 100 models use the earlier four-cylinder engine and have their own dedicated head gasket options.
Does the early BN4 2-port cylinder head change which head gasket I need?
For the head gasket itself, no. The six-cylinder head gasket options are made for BN4-BJ8 engines. The early BN4 2-port distinction matters when choosing a complete gasket set, because the inlet and exhaust manifold gaskets are different.
Does the UK-made head gasket fit Austin Healey 100-Six and 3000 models?
Yes. The UK-made head gasket, part ENG602P, is made for Austin Healey BN4, BN6, BN7, BT7, BJ7 and BJ8 six-cylinder Big Healey engines.
What if the cylinder head is not suitable to refit?
If inspection shows the cylinder head needs more than a clean, check and refit, a reconditioned exchange cylinder head may be the more practical route for a BN4-BJ8 road engine.
What is the difference between the standard, UK-made and MLS head gaskets?
The standard gasket, ENG602A, is for general road-use replacement work. The UK-made gasket, ENG602P, is made to exact original specifications from original tooling. The MLS gasket, ENG602C, is the multi-layer steel option for competition and high-performance applications.
What should be checked before fitting a new head gasket?
The cylinder head and block faces should be clean, flat and free from old gasket material, corrosion or damage. Studs, nuts, washers and threaded holes should also be inspected before reassembly.
What torque setting is used for the Austin Healey six-cylinder cylinder head?
Published Austin Healey 3000 Mk. III service data gives the cylinder head stud nut setting as 75 lb ft, approximately 102 Nm or 111.61 kg/m. Always follow the correct tightening sequence and full procedure shown in the Austin Healey six-cylinder factory workshop manual.
Which head gasket should I choose for my Austin Healey BN4-BJ8?
For a standard road engine, the UK-made head gasket is the more considered choice when the cylinder head is already off and the repair is being done properly, while the MLS multi-layer steel gasket is intended for competition and high-performance engine builds.

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