I dont know whats up? I have Burnt fuel in odd places. My truck isnt over heating, but my exhaust gasket is ripped again. It seems like ever time I put a gasket on it becomes ripped right away. there is also burnt gas on the top of the header, just a little, not as much as last time, the top of the head button is a bit wet with gas, the Cooling fins are a little wet on the back side. There is also notch in the first gold ring in the piston sleeve cause the second one is a little wet w/ gunk on it and the one on the head button is also a bit wet. It puzzles me because the truck isnt overheating, but im affraid if i put the gasket back on it will continue leaking and start to overheat. The truck isnt smoking, the piston is completly silver, the head button isnt burnt. How can i put on a gasket or can someone show me a pic of theres.

The notch is on the right side of the engine on the rear side, right next to the screw hole.

when i first got my new engine(.46)the head bolts were not all the way tight (from the factory)and were really hard to tighten almost like they were cross threaded also if there is any doubt about the condition of the head shim(s) gold rings just replace them mine was spraying fuel out the side all over the fuel tank

Alright I'll Try that, I will need to order them though []. No one around me sells them. I guess i wil lhave to buy another set of exhaust seals too.

Hey Darkfire, that notch locates the sleeve in the block, if you look closely you will see a small pin in the notch. I have seen some of the head screws not tapped deep enough to get a good seal, but they were close. I have chased the threads in the block, out with a blind hole tap, to clean them up make them just tad bit deeper. If you dont have a tap then grinding the tip of screw down just a bit will help just be sure to clean the threads by grinding a bevel on the end of the screw. Dont grind too much, take your time. Now, your head shims,, if they are flat and not kinked they are fine and they should last the lifetime of the engine, you DONT need to replace them!!

Exhaust gaskets will tear often if they are installed improperly, when you slip the gasket over the block flange be sure to get the ridge on the inside of the gasket into the groove on the block flange. Then lube the outside of the gasket and the iside of the header pipe with light machine oil. this will allow the header pipe to slip over the silicone gasket easier and wont "grab" it. Then be sure to push the header on squarely and seat it completely!!!

hope that helps!!

If you have any further questions feel free to ask, bro..

I think i do have a tapping kit, but i could also try the griding trick. Thanks! I guess I will just have to buy new exhaust sealers.

Oops, look at the post below.

I looked at the cooling head when it wasnt on the engine with the screws all the way down. Then I looked at them again when the were tightend all the way. I believe that they are a bit higher from when I looked at them when the head was off. The difference is ever so slight, could that be enough to do that?

Darkfire, I was looking at your blurry pic of the block and its clear(get it, pun, lol ohh I'm way too tired for this!!!) anyway, its clear that the top of cylinder flange has had some by-pass. See how dirty or discolored it is? that should be shiny!! You can tell the difference when the screws are tight against the head or screw shaft. If the Screw Shaft is bound, it fell feel springy, but if the head of the screw is tight against the cooling tight it will feel tight and firm!!! I realize its not a direct answer to your ?? but I feel it might be a better way to tell if the screw holes are threaded deep enough..

I do hope I made this clear enough and it helps.. Shees I'm tired,, no sleep for a couple days[&o]

After reading it over like 10 times trying to figure out what your saying i will try it when i get home from school.

I think i solved my cooling head problem. I grided down the screws and it seems to be working. Thanks TRD. But Im still having a problem with the annoying exhaust seals, no matter how hard i try, i cant make a perfect seal. Its really annoying me.[:@] Anyone have pics or other strategies to use to keep the rubber seal in place while putting on the header? Ive tried light machine oil and wd40 but they only help a little. Any suggestions?