Spent the weekend cleaning parts, getting ready for reassembly.
I got these to clean the block with but they also proved helpful on other parts as well. The timing cover was the most time consuming.
And what are these for and are they stock?
Do they simply prevent the oil pan from being damaged by the bolts?
Yes, they are stock. You can probably get away without them, but if you have them, use them. My understanding is that they help distribute the clamping evenly over the oil pan.
Joe