External head gasket leak??

[bkellett11]

Rebuilt the top of my 327. Initial startup noticed a coolant leak toward the backside of the driver side head. Where the head meets the block. Bad gasket or maybe didn't torque properly? Any input would be awesome!! Thanks.

[mud.man.rj]

Maybe the head gasket is in upside down, can happen or are both dowel pins in the block, just ideas. I torque in at least 4-5 steps and then recheck one last time at max torque. Other than that maybe warped cyl head.

[TJ's Chevy]

Could be both. Sounds like a gasket...or maybe even the head or block is warped?

[mud.man.rj]

Pretty much pulling the cyl head and check gasket first, they do say which side faces up on them and if good put a straight edge across the block corner to corner both ways and same on cyl head. Good chance head itself but we are short on details.

[bkellett11]

Brand new top end kit from jegs. Vortec heads.

[mud.man.rj]

Well how ever you look at it, it leaks so has to come apart for inspection.

[Oldtruckfanatic]

Usually when I see that I find something like a small piece of the old gasket stuck to the block or head preventing the gasket from seating properly. There are tons of other causes but that one comes up most when i see a new install leaking.