Quick question.....
I bought a set of gaskets and was wondering if anyone could tell me what side goes down and what side goes up? One side of the gasket has metal on it and the other side says gasket....?

Does anyone know what side would go down...or torwards the engine block?

Thanks!

 

it should only line up one way... metal or not, it should line up on every point...

 

They are normally marked "this side up" or "this side towards block". Take a close look at all the printing on the gaskets. But as Bud says, I believe they'll only fot the block perfectly in one direction. Try test fitting them on the alignment pins.

 

What brand of gaskets?

 

Mr. Gasket

 

I have never seen head gaskets that didn't at least say "top", but I always use felpro

 

Well I would think that the metal part would go towards the block? What did the old ones look like?

 

Do the gaskets have part numbers or the name on them? Generally, that would be the side that faces up. Or if the hole configurations are different, then how it lines up to the block and head would make it obvious. If the holes are the same no matter which side is up, and there aren't any other markings, then feel the cylinder seal ring on both sides of the gasket. If you were to be installing aluminum heads, the side with the more pronounced (raised) ring would face the head so it digs in better to the aluminum. Given that logic, I would still install the raised ring side up, even with cast iron heads. Another thing to look at is if the gaskets have some raised areas around a hole that may match an oblong opening on the head. If so, face the side with those raises against the head, providing all the holes still line up to the block that way. Some say it doesn't matter which side is up, as long as all the holes line up. But then, why do the two sides have a different look to them if it doesn't matter?

 

Great I did get it. They only fit one way around the oil.

Now my question is does any one have the torque spec foe the head gasket bolts? I got the pattern but am not sure about the torque.

 

I dunno. I have used ARP so long I forgot. Guessing would be 75-80