It never seen extream heat though, enough to blow it.

 

You don't necessarily have to overheat a motor to blow a head gasket.. You may have not torqued the head down properly when it was changed before, causing it to blow.

 

It lasted 5 yrs. from when I replaced it. May have took awhile..true. As were on the subject of head gaskets, I did use a GM head gasket. What do you think about the copper head gasket spray by Permatex? Use..or not use.

 

thats more of a sealant than anything. I've never used it, so I really have no input on it.

stress, old age, warped head, any of those can also cause a blown head gasket. Was the head/block machine shaved when you replaced the gasket?

 

Yea had a valve job done as well as the head milled. Not the block. Stoned it best I could.

 

those motors are prone to blowing head gaskets anyways. I would say it was about due for one.

 

Thanks....good enough.

 

Ended up being bent valves. Timing chain must have skipped a tooth because the tensioner was defective too. Head was cracked, tossed that, got a new one. Redid everything now. Runs great! Thanks for all the input.