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Hadn't thought of that......

Maybe overthinking but............The end cylinders had decent compression so the crush ring was doing something .You mentioned Ferrari had steel Shims in the gaskets to presumably keep head from cupping -perhaps they had cases of stress fractures in the ports ?Probably a good idea to pressure test heads again.If port compromised compression test would be good but water in on valve opening

Its possible and wouldn't be the first time




Last time though it was pretty clean coolant was flowing in the intake ports. This I don't see anything, no sticky goo like I see int he exhaust ports of offending cylinders, no clean areas (the cylinder with coolant were spotlessly clean) so I don't know. I can test them while their off, I still have the covers on a shelf......but I'm pretty certain its the head gaskets

I could change the order to another set of the composite gaskets and buy some steel to wrap around the ends to try and duplicate the factory approach...how much to use would be a guess but its possible to try...these did ALMOST seal with the sealant on them. I think that a couple have suggested or implied that....

Here is another idea you may not like .Coat the old gaskets with copper head gasket sealer -use the steel shims and do the leak tests .If it works then new gaskets .

Maybe but remember I did leak test this engine on the bench. It didn't hold air very well but did sit a week at 15psi with coolant in it so as far as I could tell it was sealed.

I seem to remember the over 30 psi test was marginal . .There has to be a reason Ferrari prescribed high pressures for testing .I have no idea what pressure the water pump produces at speed - I would bet north of 30 psi .I still can't get past the cylinder generates 150 psi and lets in lower pressure water .

The 30psi test was with air. A couple Ferrari tech types suggested 15psi for 3-7 days was a better test. The Ferrari test is 8-10 bar for 15 minutes.

As for coolant getting into the cylinder, the cylinder pressure is positive during compression, power, exhaust so 540 degrees and negative 180 or so during intake.....I'm sure head gasket leaks go in both directions but for sure it's getting in and going out the exhaust.

I found a use for the clutch fitting I ripped off....its now q cap

Essentially none.
Static and thermal pressure are far far greater than the pressure that the pump creates.

However, high static pressures for testing will find more leaks.