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How to identify top side of head gasket if not marked

S

SW EM

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Happy Holidays Everyone!

I'm getting the MD cylinder head reinstalled today, but I ran into a problem trying to figure out which direction to put the head gasket on. I purchased it from Bates Corp, there are no markings on it and the fire ring is identical on both sides. However there is a smooth side and a rougher side. Is this enough to determine the direction? I quickly searched this question online but saw varying responses.

Thanks!
 
There is an oil gallery hole on the right front corner of the engine deck. This passage connects to the cylinder head through a hole in the head gasket. putting this where it must be forces the top to be in the correct position. I recommend making sure the gasket around this small hole is sealed with #2 permatex as it is being assembled. It is prone to leak there, and deserves attention. Just a thin film of the #1 around that hole on both sides. Jim
 
The head gasket is symmetrical. The oil gallery hole is on both ends of the gasket. The only difference is between the texture of the two sides. One is smooth and the other is slightly rougher. Any ideas?

Thanks!
 
Smooth side down (opinion) based on remembering what I saw doing several years ago. The next head job it gets will take more gasket with the head and be easier to clean. Remember to do the Permatex thing around the hole. Jim
 
greetings:
I may be overthinking this, but it seems to me that since they put gallery holes at both ends, they meant for it to be useable either way.

Dennis M. in W. Tenn.
 
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