Performance 3406E head gasket solution ??

definitely 16:1 pistons and not industrial at 18:1?

I have seen cryogenically treated factory bolts hold up quite well torqued to 350lb/ft.

generally from what I've seen continued gasket failure is from it being too hot or too much cylinder pressure. You need to get some cylinder pressure out for it to hang on

 

I remembered reading this post when I stumbled upon this:

ARP Head Bolt Kit

 

A lot of Cat heads, including new ones are not flat when measured sideways. When resurfacing a head, the only way to make it perfectly flat, is to have the cutter machine wheel, completely flat. The only problem with that, is that when the backside of the cutter wheel, starts over the head surface, it stars to make a crosshatch pattern, which is not acceptable. The way to prevent this, is to raise the backside of the cutter wheel, to prevent it from touching. Machine shops raise it excessively, causing the front to machine the head low in the middle, measured crosswised. That is right where most head gaskets fail. The professional mechanics that I work for, would not concider installing any head (used or new) , without having it resurfaced. Beware, many machine shops do the same thing, which does not improve anything. Be sure to measure every head, with a precission straight edge crosswise. I have seen brand new cat heads, that were .004" low in the center, measured crosswise. I would not install a head that is .001" or more, low in the center. I could possibly see the head bolts straightening the head, lengthwise, but not sideways.

 

That's complete bs.... If your getting back cut the machine tool is wore out. It's not rocket science just a plain and simple fact. That's why any respectable shop has ballbar checks scheduled on their machines the compensate for imperfections in their rails and bearings. If your getting a heavy center cut it's not jigged properly or your machine tool is shot. We always moved our jig up and down the bed to make sure our tool was wearing evenly......the ballbar test confirmed that.

 

Good job! I know of many shops that do not do it that way. I just did a job which reblew a head gasket within 600 miles. The mechanic had had it resurfaced before he reinstalled it. It was .002" low in the middle.

 

I highly recommend that all mechanics check every head croswised, with a precision straightedge, before installing the head. To make sure that it was resurfaced, the way that you do it.

 

That looks nice,who rings the 3406 e head?