I am having problems with my 5.9 and Indy cast iron heads. It is leaking coolant and after two sets of head gaskets I am ready for help. I am running FELPRO Blue head gaskets, ARP bolts and 108ft of torque. The heads are new and cut flat. The block has about 57k on it. I used a straight edge to check the block for flatness. I have assembled about two dozen motors and have neaver had a problem like this. Is there a head gasket that works great on this motor. Thanks for your help.

Are you torquing the head bolts down in stages? I think the manual calls for 50ft/lbs on the first pass and then ~105 ft/lbs on the second for the stock heads anyways. Maybe the head is cracked somewhere? Where exactly are they leaking? Same spot everytime?

The heads are leaking across the top into the valley. I could see on the head gasket where the water was moving from the port into the valley. The heads are new and the leak moved from just leaking on the right side to leaking on the right and left on the top. I run the torque up in 4 steps starting at 50 and finishing at 108. The problem seems to be in the head gasket. The water ports are real close to the edge on this head and I dont thing they are sealing correctly with the FELPRO Blue gasket.

Victor-Reinz is what they were build with.Graphite coated.They were the best by far in all the testing on the Magnum engines.

Which port to the valley, I have heard of the intakes not sealing correctly to the head causing leaks into the valley but never the heads themselves leaking unless using cometic gaskets.

I would mock up with no intake gaskets to make sure everything is where it should be. There is no reason to have a leak with the Fel-pro gasket, it is a fine choice.

Thanks for all the help. The water is leaking from the top water transfer ports into the valley. The first time it was all the top ports. I was getting coolant comming out of the front and back of the motor at about an inch below the head, block and intake intersection. It was the same on both sides. The driver side of the motor was not leaking at all. I checked the pins and the head bolt lenght. I then ordered all new gaskets and ARP head bolts and put it together just to have it leak on both sides in the back in the same spot as before. I was also told by a Mopar engine builder in town that I should be using some Ultra Grey aroung the water ports, so I did do that and still leaked water. I have to believe that this head gasket is just not right for this motor.

It is NOT the head gasket causing the problem. Has to be a crack or the water port is not in the right position in the head or dowls are holding the head up a little or the bolts are a little too long or mabey the head gasket was bent or something but I have built a lot of motors with those gaskets and magnum heads and never had one leak.

If those are the Indy/RHS heads you are mentioning then there is a possibility the bolts are too long and not compressing the gasket all the way. They're bottoming out.

You say it's leaking on the valley side?
Those are the ones that are too long!

Member OU812 can correct me if I am wrong.
PM him and ask him. he had new ARP bolts made for these and there should be a part number now.

I have the stock bolts with Victor Reinz gasket on my 408 Magnum.........everything is cool !

........I like your thinking on the matter Dave !

Dan

I checked the pins but I will check the bolts and keep you posted. Mopars in the park is this weekend and I need to be there!!! Thanks again for all the help.

if you still have the old head gaskets take a look at them and see if you can determine any part of the gasket is thicker (hasn't compressed as much)or use a caliper to measure the thickness. Might give you some clues as to where to look next.

Again, thank you you for all the help with this problem. I found that the intake was bottoming out on the the block and lifting the head. The folks at Indy cylinder head were very helpful and sent me on the right path. I was interesting hearing Indy's opinion on head gaskets. They feel that nobody has made a high perf. head gasket for the 5.9 Mag. They want you to run the Victor head gasket. I purchased the Victor's and coated them with Copper Coat. I have had the car out twice now with no problems

Felpro 1008'S (for LA motors) are a proven head gasket for 5.2 and 5.9 magnum motors too.