Hey all new to the forum. Starting to work out problems on my new rig. First things first.

I just got back to Vt. from OR, with my new Mighty Max and the head gasket that I put on 4000 miles ago has blown. The shop who was helping me put the previous head gasket in sold me a metal gasket (can't remember the brand) and told me to put permatex gasket sealer on it, (this isn't what worked on my vw) but I listened. I used new bolts and torqued them in sequence working out from the middle to 50 ft lbs and then 93 ft lbs (this was on the shops advice.)

Any Ideas on what to do differently this time to make it stick?. I would love to try something different. Clean and dry is what I've always done with my VW diesel. How about the torque steps are those the right numbers? Also what gaskets do you all have luck with and where to find them and the bolts.

Thanks in advance