Glad you are back on line. pop the plugs out to check for steam cleaning,then go from there
Hmm..
Having no luck with these Headgaskets!!
take the plugs out and have a look at them as well as in the bores, steam cleaning is common if she's burning off water,
new bolts were used during assembly, i'm assuming
Uhh really picky this engine!!
Have the heads been checked for warping/ or the home method of a straight edge run across the surface to check the flatness of the head surface?
Sure it is the head and not the valley gasket? You can overtighten the clamp at the back very easily and then it won't seal.
I won't mention the possibility of a crack in the block ... oh f*ck, I have!
Hmm..
Could be a duff/shyte gasket not sealing correctly mixed with odd headbolts which is causing your overall issue..
The V8 is very picky regarding gaskets.
It definitely sounds like a Leaking HG!!
But to be sure i'd pull the plugs!!
Ha, your telling me!
Still, I like being on learning curves, it get's boring when you stop learning and those who think they have nothing left to learn are those who still have so much more to learn.
I also forgot to add, the top hose was rock hard and the cap was releasing pressure
HG me thinks
HG 99.10%
You've done this so many times, should only take ya half hour
I don't like doing the OS head though, so glad I took your advice on wrapping the exhausts! the top end strip took me 2 hours last
the last gems i did about 2 months ago, i just cut and mangled the manifold shields off!!!
Much easier!
pull her apart fit new gasket, bolts etc etc and turn the key!!!
this time it'll work!!
That's all I did, ripped them out, I didn't fancy fitting them again anyway, even after itchy hands from Kevlar tape!
I hope so! It'll be third time lucky!!!
3rd times the charm!!
Itchy hands is a mild side effect of Kevlar tape!!
Yeah, I've had the misfortune of building up carbon blocks at work for engine mounts, I hate it. I found a trick where I slop loads of suncream or moisturiser on before working on carbon or Kevlar. When you shower it just all rinses off rather than sticking to your skin.
Yes composite gaskets, are better as they can be used on a not so great mating surface, IE they offer more forgiveness but they're not a get out of jail free card, if your deck and head is warped to shít they won't work but if the surfaces aren't as spic and spam as they should be they can take up the slack if ya likeI'm just thinking aloud here but I am curious. Can't you fit different thickness gaskets like after a skim?