The engine is back together with the new block, but not in the car yet.  I used a straightedge and feeler gauges on the head in the suspect area.  I put a .001 strip under the straightedge and could easily pull it out.  Tried a .002, couldn't pull it out.  Didn't want to take any chances at this point, so I took the head to my machinist.  When I picked it up, he told me that he found the whole area between the front two upper head bolts, like it was caved in.  Then he told me he only had to take .003 off the head to true it up.  I would think a composition gasket could handle that.  I couldn't easily pull the .001 strip from under the straightedge on the block, but the pitted area remains that didn't clean up when it was decked.  I sure hope that was my problem.  I'll put the block in storage for a later project.  I'm sure it would be fine on a non-supercharged engine.  It's already decked, bored .030, deeper main bolts, 1/2" head bolts, groove behind the center main.  

I've gone back to the Best gaskets on this build, will see next season if it's fixed. 

Congratulations on hitting the big 70 .Does this mean you are going to go easy on us young ones ??? Sure hope I can make Columbus this year .If nothing else but to see the "Hoosier Hurricane " lift those front wheels off the ground .The whole trip is worth the money just to see that .All the other stuff is just a bonus .I hope I am as keen as you when I reach that age .Good luck for 2011 .

Lon

Hope and pray you can be around a lot longer...

Oldmics

Yes it is, and this head is posted adjacent to the water opening that the gasket leaked into.  And the water hole in the block is adjacent to the cylinder wall, which makes it like a huge post in the block.

I read where Vern showed the Ford guys that he could put a dial indicator on the head and push on the non-posted area and get the dial indicator to move showing flex in that area.

If your head (God forbid) has a crack or an air pocket in the "post",it could still flex.

Perhaps trying to Vern"s method of inspection could ascertain if there still could be a problem.

Hoosier,you absolutly have forgotten more than I will ever know about Y Blocks.My suggestion is just a different view point from something I read that might be worth a glimpse at.

I always think two heads are better than one

Oldmics 

Thanks for the thought.  I had never thought of that.  But since the engine is ready to install, I'm not inclined to pull the head and check it.  But I could check a spare head and see if that happens.

Yes, they are 471.  Another reason I lean toward a block problem is that #8 cylinder has no gasket problem.  With the heads being interchangeable, #1 and #8 should be cast the same.