New head install leaked coolant

[chrisrandle1]

Hello;
Today my friend and I was trying to finish up my new head install and went to fill up the coolant and it started pooring out the head.  Rechecked the torque, seemed to be fine.  I chased all of the threads when I installed the studs. I used the provided lube on the threads.
Proth Head
ARP Studs Torqued to 90ft/lbs
New Valves $220
When we pulled the head back off it seemed like only half of the headgasket was crushed.

Any ideas you guys can offer would be great.  Any additional information you may need I will provide.

Thanks again
-Chris

[zagarus]

is it a new head?  Has it been decked before you put it on?  Is the head warped? Also did you torque the studs in the correct sequence?

[chrisrandle1]

Yes new head, correct torque pattern.

[truckinwagen]

what kind of headgasket?

[speedy]

The very first thing I would do is check the head with a straightedge to be sure it is flat.  If only half of the gasket was crushed and coolant poured out, it would have to have a huge amount of runout, maybe even enough to see with the naked eye.  But any metal ruler should reveal that problem in just a few seconds.

-David

[chrisrandle1]

Thanks for the quick response. Head is perfectly flat, triple checked it.   Headgasket is a cheap one $10, however before installing it I checked it with digital calipers and it was the right thickness and the same everywhere on the gasket.  Which brand do guys you recomend since I get to replace it now?  Ive been thinking about it and was wondering if it could have something to do with the ARP studs?  I know I used the right ones I got the info from this page and they screwed in right with the proper amount above the head.

Thanks again
-Chris

[rabbitman]

Is it a hydraulic head, block and gasket or a mix of hydro and mechanical stuff?

What engine?

[chrisrandle1]

hey;
It is a 1V engine in its orignal 1992 Ecodiesel Jetta, hydrolic head and block.

Thanks
-Chris

[chrisrandle1]

Any other ideas?  I am still thinking I did something wrong with the ARP Head Studs.  I ordered bolts so I will give that a try.

-Chris

[Mark(The Miser)UK]

Any other ideas?  I am still thinking I did something wrong with the ARP Head Studs.  I ordered bolts so I will give that a try.

-Chris

Does one set of studs have standard threads, and one set, fine? [ARP/Raceware] Did you use wrong torque?

Exactly which areas of the gasket were not crushed?

[Vincent Waldon]

Headgasket is a cheap one $10,

From a certain beloved provider of discount offshore parts?

[Dakotakid]

Focus on what Libby is asking you two stories up.
I think he is on target.

[theman53]

pics of how it went in maybe helpful as well.

[chrisrandle1]

Sorry for the slow response, libbybapa can you ask your question in a different way I don't fully understand it.
The crank was on TDC the cam was locked at TDC.

All of the head studs were the same.  ARP is the brand.

Yes the head gasket was from our famous friend.  BTW  I have had a lot of luck with his stuff until this point and I am not sure it has anything to do with his parts which is why I ordered more from him.  I already have so much money invested into this whole project that it has broke me a couple times over. 

I will work on getting photos, I am fairly sure that it crushed 1 and 2 but not 3 or 4.

Thanks again
-Chris

[Vincent Waldon]

Andrew's asking about TDC on the cam 'cause if you try to bolt the head down at TDC without the valves also setup for TDC the piston/valve jam that results can prevent the head from being torqued down properly.

The reason I asked about the quality of the parts because other than Andrew's suggestion it's hard to think of any reason why a gasket wouldn't compress properly, assuming the surfaces are flat, head torqued in sequence etc,  unless the gasket itself is malformed.