My '96 Camaro Z28 SS from SLP has blown four head gaskets in twelve year always on the last bolt in front of the driver. The third time the mechanic cracked the block trying to remove the head; coolant return line was clogged. At 20000 miles the new engine blew the gasket at that same bolt. The shop boss thinks the engine is not getting enough air circulation back in that corner by the firewall. What do you think?

 

could a cylinder head be warped from an overheat?

I dont think air circulation is anything to do with it, headers will cook an engine bay and not hurt anything.

 

thats where my head gasket blew at too. i remeber that head bolt was hard to get to so i could see how a shop wouldn't get it torqued properly.

 

i didnt have a problem torqueing any of the head bolts on my car

 

You most likely have a warped block deck or head deck. Have them checked. What head gasket have you been using?

 

It would not be a wrapped head because I got a new GM LT1 20000 miles ago. Shop boss said he has seen two other Camaro with that same bolt blowing gaskets. I tried AskQuestion and their Chevy Expert said that the injector may not be set right on that cylinder and it is buring lean and hot. Does that sound logical?

 

potentially ya, but i hate those online ask programs. where do you live? You need to go to somewhere that knows LT1's. 4 head gaskets is fu**ing crazy, something is wrong. I was going nuts when i blew one once, 4 times would send me over the edge.

 

Does anyone else have any suggestions? One guys said something about steam getting into the head.

 

Its possible that the alignment dowel pins are holding the head from seating all the way.May need to drill the holes out a little. I would check that first.

 

I'm going to second that. If the shop cracked your block in the first place, they don't know what they are doing. Take it to a Vette shop or something, then you know the mechanics working on it know EXACTLY what to look for.

 

Just blew a head gasket in the same location!