Head gasket woes

Demonx2 said

4700' actual elevation? That must be something like 87kPa barometric pressure? So the engine is really only seeing roughly 87% of sea level load even at WOT. (Farmers math - gets you close!)

So that 36* timing is really not that much timing at that load. It's like only partially opening the throttle on a dyno at sea level.
Hard to understand how both head gadgets would let go at that lighter load. Unless the clamp load just wasn't there.

I don't have the answer but just wanted to ask about the altitude/ point this out.

Click to expand...

Yeah, I'm thinking something else is going on, as I'd be surprised that detonation did that.

You said its like the clamp load wasn't there, and I think you're on to something. I think 318WR said to verify that the dowel pins aren't holding the head off the deck. That's worth verifying.

I've seen bolt holes that weren't tapped to the bottom and the bolt wouldn't go all the way down because it was bottomed in the threads. That's something to look at as well.

The other thing I keep forgetting to ask is if the block and heads were decked or if one or both were not decked.

Something is wonky.