Several things might have caused that.
1) how level is the block deck and head deck inbetween those two cylinders.
More then .002” off is not good.
2) that’s a very hot area between those two exh ports and if the motor runs hot it even has overheated in the passed that head bolt above the two center exh ports will expand more then normal from the heat and that in turn reduces the clamping load that’s needed.
When this number two condition takes place over and over then the gaskets fire ring gets burned through little by little.
3) that center head bolt might not have been torqued right due to crap in the threads,
3B) or that bolt might be too long and is bottoming out in the bolt hole which will give the needed torque reading, but not the needed clamping load.
When I torque up those two center bolts I go up 100 lbs from the stock 95 just to better deal with those bolts expanding from heat.
If this is a 1973 and up casting I would knock that head apart and get it crack checked before just checking it for level and bolting it back on.
__________________
Wernher Von Braun warned before his retirement from NASA back in 1972, that the next world war would be against the ETs!
And he was not talking about 1/8 or 1/4 mile ETs!
1) 1940s 100% silver 4 cup tea server set.
Two dry rotted 14 x 10 Micky Thompson slicks.
1) un-mailed in gift coupon from a 1972 box of corn flakes.
Two pairs of brown leather flip flops, never seen more then 2 mph.
Education is what your left with once you forget things!
Last edited by steve25; 01-13-2026 at 06:02 AM.
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