Head gasket orientation need help asap

[90_Red_LX]

Hey guys, I am trying ot set my heads on the car tonight, but I've ran into a snag. I've always understood that the gaskets shoudl not block any water jackets at all, but given the way my head gaskets are, the ones on the passenger side very back will be blocked, and the ones at my drivers front will be blocked. All other holes look great, but I don't understand why these are blocked, or if they should be. I really want my heads on tonight so if you guys can help, it'll be appreciated. Also, FRONT goes radiator side right? With front on the upside on passenger, down on driver correct? Tabs go towards intake that way. Thanks.

 

[Blandnuts]

They don't have "head side" stamped on them? Or do they just say "front" on them?


fred

 

[90_Red_LX]

They just say front.

 

[Blandnuts]

Well, I put mine with the front facing towards the radiator.

 

[Bullitt347]

"Front" on gaskets goes toward front of car. One gasket will have the word front facing up and the other side will face down. The coolant holes should be covered on the front of the block by the gasket. The way the coolant moves thru the engine goes like this. Water comes out of the bottom of the radiator into the water pump where it is pumped into both sides of the block. The coolant travels thru the block and comes up at the back of the block into the cylinder heads, (that is why the coolant holes need to be plugged in the front of the block by the gasket) the coolant enters the rear of the heads and travels forward thru the heads and come up into the front of the intake manifold to the thermostat, and when it opens into the top side of radiator to be cooled down and start the process all over again. Hope this helps

 

[90_Red_LX]

Thanks a lot, I feel a lot more comftorable about my gaskets now. I was scared for a while that one was going to be wrong.

 

[back2fox]

I know what you mean I felt the same way when I was looking at my head gaskets during my rebuild.