[Gearhead999]

Is it leaking external from where?? Is the intake mating up OK??
Has the block been decked?? Mayber too much??

Are any of the headbolts holes showing signs of "puckering up" around the edge of the threaded holes in the block?? Need to be relieved there. Are any of the headbolts "mushy" when you torque them?? Not holding the torque good.

If everything is flat, the headbolts are good, the treads are sealed, the intake meets the heads correctly and the gaskets are correct....well something has to be cracked.

Wish you were closer. Hey, you'd be warmer !!!! I had a 289 in my shop doing similar antics. Fill up crankcase and fill up intake manifold with water. Cylinder heads were machined too much and they wouldn't seal. Have seen Ch**Y's do that, but they had angle cut heads to up compression ratio, too much too.

I'm interested to hear what fixes it, besides a stick of TNT.