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.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

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.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

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 

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.

John - "The Hoosier Hurricane"

Oldmics

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

Daniel Jessup

Lancaster, California

aka "The Hot Rod Reverend"
check out the 1955 Ford Fairlane build at www.hotrodreverend.com