I decided to give a fel pro 1094 steel head gasket a shot. On the 2 nd pass I heard a pop, it felt like something gave, hard to describe. Anyone else have this experience? Normal? It only did it one side.

 

About every one I ever used. Especially if block/head prep wasn't PERFECT.

Just not my idea of ideal.

Eeeeezy enough to troubleshoot with a compression test though; usually you'll have 2 adjacent cyls with low compression, most often the center 2 on one side.

 

Had the block and heads surfaced, still on the stand, no wiring or starter. I’m thinking now would be the time if I need to change them.

 

The engine backfired or the exhaust poped.
Fuwl explosion in exhaiust system

Whats that got to do with a head gasket?
If you are running it on a stand. likley incorrect ignition timing.

 

Sounds like he was on the 2nd pass torquing the head down. Hopefully it was not a dowl pin that was not aligned correctly.

 

Maybe you left a Cherrios on the piston when you put the cylinder head on.
Or, a Fruity Pebbles.🤗

 

Sorry I wasn’t very clear, yes it was when I was torking down the head gasket. It was sitting down flat, the dowels lined up. It just felt like something gave, never used a steel shim before always a mls or composite.

 

Sure it was not the head bolt that gave?

 

Or the socket cracked.

 

Socket looked good, used new arp bolts. They torked down to final specs fine. I think I’ll get a new intake gasket and head gaskets before I put it back in. It’s going to be easier now rather than later. Just thought it odd, never had that happen with regular head gasket.

 

Never have I had a problem with the shim head gaskets.

 

I have not either. They usually crush when I run the head bolts down with my speed wrench. Does not take much force to bend the ridges straight when you have 17 head bolts.

 

Kinda' funny, but I read 'On the 2 nd pass I heard a pop', as WOT on the strip.

But if it was during head torquing, ether a bolt broke or the block threads pulled out...

RBob.