Currently in the middle of an engine strip and rebuild of my 99 748s. The problem is I've been informed by my local Ducati dealer that head gaskets are no available for my model year. Are other model year head gaskets available or does anyone know of a garage with 1999 s Head Gaskets in stock
Any good, Athena Ducati 748 Engine Motor Cylinder Head Gasket gaskets Early Style | eBay or Ducati 748 748 S Biposto/Monoposto 2001 Athena Cylinder Head Gasket | eBay Steve
Looks like you had the older type gasket fitted. Gaskets are still available but are a new thinner construction. You will need to use the later thicker base gaskets to compensate and retain the correct squish clearances.
If you buy the whole kit the gaskets will match. If you don't need the whole kit then you might need to do some research or see the gaskets and match them up.
Did you pull off thick fiber gaskets? or medium thickness metal gaskets? I'm assuming your '99 was thick fiber? Those Athena ones are the only available I've been able to find. Look in your '99 748 parts fiche book at the part number. Watch ebay for some NOS one's if you really want OEM.
The original fibre gaskets are thicker and more prone AFAIK to leaking, mine sprung a leak on the rear cylinder. As said above get the new type with the appropriate thicker base gasket for the same overall thickness (or play with different base thicknesses to set the squish tighter). It used to be cheaper to get the complete top-end gasket set than buy them singly, maybe still so? plus you'll want the other parts ('O' rings etc.) if you're doing a proper job anyway. P.S. If you change the gaskets for the newer type i.e. thinner head/thicker base (same overall) don't forget to fit the thicker 'O' ring to the rear head oil feed, or block it off as it is redundant anyway on the 4v (a 2v 'hangover') or you'll have an oil leak at the base of the rear cylinder as soon as you fire it up and you'll have to do rear cylinder again - don't ask...
