I have enjoyed reading this thread ..... understand wiruing hack jobs as well ..... "frustrating" is mild.

Lesson I learned on my 69 Dart 340 and one that has stuck with me ever since .... I use composition head gaskets like Felpro and I spray two coats of good quality "Aluminum High Heat Engine Enamel" on the gaskets prior to assymbly.

This was first suggested to me by the parts man at Adam's Motor Co as he set a can of the enamel (I think that can was "Rubberseal" brand maybe ... but I have used Krylon as well) on the counter with the head gaskets after my Dart blew one (4 cylinders have 5 head bolts, 4 cylinders have 4 head bolts) of it's factory installed head gaskets. It's been used in every one of my head gasket installs since that day in 1972 and never have I had a failure. That paint has aluminum suspended in the enamel.

Just throwin' it out there for what it's worth.

 

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