what intake gaskets did you use? when ramcharger mentioned vac leak it made me think of it.i know the fel-pro perma-torqs can be prone to vac leaks if used under an aluminum intake.also you mentioned"the good head"did it have a head on / off recently?if so was it surfaced?sorry to hear so many problems.man ive been there.
Napa felpro; don't know the history of the engine; no problems for 10+ years of daily driver.. Heads look untouched. all was fine until I took it apart; standard gaskets, etc. Pistons just out of the hole.
What a nightmare; next week, a buddy is due to help install the 727(was a manual 3 speed) If I change cam and try to check trans fluid on start up.... too much at the same time. Oh, no drive shaft, so can't start it.. more time to think, and get PO'ed.
A guy at the local NAPA; has a bud with the same problem. Nobody can figure it out; he says: out of the hole-great, then stumbles. Sounds like a retarded cam. Now take the radiator and grill back out, and spend $. damn.
And the springs are dark red, with the anti-harmonic spring inside; ain't factory.