im posting this for a friend who has a 400 ex with the big bore kit...440..
he blows head gaskets and main gaskets like they are free, and they were while under warranty, but now they arent....he is wondering if there is a better way to have it done, is there a better gasket? he also head of putting in 5mm bigger head studs so they dont stetch? any help would be nice.

 

First make sure you are using a quality gasket. Longer head studs should help. Is he torquing(sp?) them down to proper specs?

 

When they put the sleeve in they warped the jug use a peice of flat glass and tape a peice of 200 wet sand paper to it use some WD40 and flat sand the jug. If it is warped to bad you will have to get another jug.

 

i had the same problem but i done that and it fix it

 

yeah most places don't take their time to do things right anymore. they just want to get it done, doesn't matter how good of a job they did.

myself i'd set it up on a mill, indicate the deck surface, and run a fly cutter across the whole top surface to ensure it was even, but i have access to machines, where as most people don't.

later on
NichelsonRacing87

 

does anyone know the torque specs off hand? and what is coincidered a quality gasket?

 

Cylinder head bolts and nuts are 33 lbf. Once you get the problem of the warp fixed any 440 gasket set will work.