Maybe you could get someone who has a good head (no pun intended) to
measure the depth of the area where the cylinder goes.  If yours has
been shaved, your depth would be shallower.  If that's the case, it
could also effect the sealing of the rubber O-ring.

I would also check the water jacket mating surface to see if it's true.
Someone could have ground away some metal to get rid of pits and left a
low spot.

The head mounting studs are also suspect.  ANY amount of corrosion is
cause for replacement and, I suppose, they could stretch without showing
any pitting.  If they have stretched, the head cap nuts would bottom
against them giving a false torque reading.

Mike

----- Original Message -----
From: "Mark Vermillion" <markvermillion@EARTHLINK.NET>
To: <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 6:04 PM
Subject: Re: repeatedly blowing head gasket

> I don't know. What could I do to determine if this was the case?
>
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Mike Collum" <collum@mfx.net>
> To: "Mark Vermillion" <markvermillion@EARTHLINK.NET>;
> <vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM>
> Sent: Sunday, March 16, 2003 5:21 PM
> Subject: Re: repeatedly blowing head gasket
>
>
> > <snip> 87' GL that has a recurrent problem with the pass. side head
> > gasket. Problem is, it won't stay intact. I just replaced it for the
> > fourth time <snip>
> >
> > Could it be that someone has "Shaved the mating surface of that head
to
> > remove pits ... therefore causing too great a space between the head
and
> > water jacket?
> >
> > Mike
> > '84 GL 7 pass auto
> > '85 GL Westy manual
> >
> >
> >
>