When was the last time you saw one of these (mystery race engine purchase)

That head gasket was about one run from failure.
8519’s or 1009’s?

Aftermarket damper?
My guess is it wasn’t honed prior to installation.

I had a couple here like that. Wouldn’t budge.
I ended up drilling a hole in it right alongside the crank snout, which allowed just enough give where the removal tool could do it’s job.
I had an ATI on another engine that wouldn’t budge either.
To save the damper, I sacrificed the timing cover(bent it enough to get the cam bolts out and slide the upper sprocket loose from the cam), then after the pistons and rods were all out I removed the crank and got the damper off in a press.
It was effin tight!!