I can remember when Fel-Pro came up with a radical new idea- - - - -a "no-retorque" head gasket! It was met with a great deal of ridicule by the oldtimers, until repeated experiences proved that the concept worked! I can also remember buying a special offset tool to go around the exhaust manifolds on small block Chevy V-8's when retorquing the heads. Before that, it was a race with time to try to get the manifolds off before the engine cooled down too much to get a good hot retorque. Burnt finger time!

For cast iron heads, the procedure was to bring the engine to normal operating temp, then retighten the head before it cooled down. For aluminum heads, the engine was warmed up, allowed to cool, then the head bolts were retorqued. For the steel shim type head gaskets, it was necessary to use a brush-on gasket sealer on both sides like Permatex Super 300 to prevent seep leaks of coolant.
Jerry

"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!