Engine Head Gasket Swap... Questions Within

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X2 what Brian said. Use the washers. My guess is because there weren't any, that allowed the head to walk a little on the gasket.

Head dowels wont let that happen.

I've used plenty of heads that step washers could have been used, but didn't do it. And never seen any negative impact from it. That being said, they could help load distribution a little, so its definitely not going to hurt anything by using them.
 
Head dowels wont let that happen.

I've used plenty of heads that step washers could have been used, but didn't do it. And never seen any negative impact from it. That being said, they could help load distribution a little, so its definitely not going to hurt anything by using them.

Dowels won't stop a HG from blowing, they are there so when you put the head on, you get proper alignment and the HG don't slip or pinch. Besides the fact he had dowels, he has studs which I think do a good job of keeping the HG aligned. Judging from what mad said about the nuts on the studs, they weren't torqued properly and with the lack of washers led to the blowout on the one cylinder.
 
Dowels won't stop a HG from blowing, they are there so when you put the head on, you get proper alignment and the HG don't slip or pinch. Besides the fact he had dowels, he has studs which I think do a good job of keeping the HG aligned. Judging from what mad said about the nuts on the studs, they weren't torqued properly and with the lack of washers led to the blowout on the one cylinder.

I never said they would. I was just commenting on the fact that you thought the head could walk on the gasket because washers weren't used. Thats not going to happen. The holes in the head gasket like a 9333 are sized to accommodate 1/2" head bolt, so, studs would do a horrible job of keeping things aligned.
 
I never said they would. I was just commenting on the fact that you thought the head could walk on the gasket because washers weren't used. Thats not going to happen. The holes in the head gasket like a 9333 are sized to accommodate 1/2" head bolt, so, studs would do a horrible job of keeping things aligned.

K thanks for the clarificaton on what you meant with the dowels. Yes the dowels align the HG and the head, but seeing how the holes are 1/2 in the heads and HG, not using the step washers add to the problem. I've always used them and never had an issue.
 
dumb question, but where exacyly do these washers go upon install, clarification needed as to how many I need please- I asume just one per stud and they replace the flat washers??

Yep. they go in between the nut on top of the head stud and the head- the step part will fit in the hole in the head. ARP and other companies sell them as a kit. You'll want to put assembly lube on the bottom of the washer, the stud thread and the nut.
 
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I never said they would. I was just commenting on the fact that you thought the head could walk on the gasket because washers weren't used. Thats not going to happen. The holes in the head gasket like a 9333 are sized to accommodate 1/2" head bolt, so, studs would do a horrible job of keeping things aligned.
^^ This is just plain WRONG...
Yep. they go in between the nut on top of the head stud and the head- the step part will fit in the hole in the head. ARP and other companies sell them as a kit. You'll want to put assembly lube on the bottom of the washer, the stud thread and the nut.
What Mike said!
This ^^ again!!!