[SRR]

Originally Posted by Sirrotica

That statement makes me laugh, I've been turning wrenches most of my adult life for a profession. I've changed a lot more SBC headgaskets that were blown than Pontiac. Only one Pontiac gasket in all that time and dozens of SBC gaskets that were blown.

As I said the engineering has to be correct for the 4 bolt per cylinder to work efficiently, Pontiac engineers got it right from the first design and even though bean counters and fuel mileage requirements lead to cheapening of the castings, the engineers seemed to have left enough heft to keep the head gaskets intact.

The worst GM division for blown headgaskets by far is Buick, in everything they made and designed, V8s and V6s had headgasket problems for many years. Working in a buick dealership it wasn't unheard of to have both of my bays with headgasket jobs...……………….....

Buick also used 4 bolts per cylinder, and they didn't get it right, not even close.

Olds used 4 bolts per cylinder and as far as gasoline engines they got it right, when the designed their diesel based on the same architecture it was flawed, however doubling the compression ration from 10.5 to 22 to one probably had something to do with that. Even though the increased the bolt size they still wanted to leak. I changed a few 5.7 diesel gaskets back in the day.

From your screen name I'd hazard a guess you're a chevy guy, lots of misinformation that circulates about why some feel chevy has a superior engine over other brands. Most of this circulates around the fact that GM made millions of them and they are dirt cheap to buy new and used parts for them. Superior engineering or manufacturing isn't the main reason for their popularity. Without the aftermarket the chevy would be severely handicapped if owners relied strictly on GM factory parts, as Pontiac enthusiasts did for so many years.

If chevy quit producing their own division engines in 1978, or 1981, (depending who you ask) as Pontiac did, I doubt there would be the following that Pontiac has sustained over roughly 40 years.

Which Buick engines? I've had numerous GM engines and never lost a head gasket. I think a factor not mentioned here is neglect and the engine being over heated to the point that the head gasket gives up the ghost. Most of the knuckle dragging public will just keep adding water or pouring in stop leak plugging up the coolant passages. Most of the problems with the later SBC engines were thin castings that would crack between the valve seat before the head gasket would give out. I remember a few years ago going into a machine shop and seeing 6 sets of SBC heads on the counter...all cracked between the valve seats. Yikes.

The prior owner of my Buick 455 used studded head bolts...maybe your right.