Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important?
02-13-2003, 04:43 AM
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Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? There are these small cylinders that kind of go inside a head bolt hole, two per head, on the lower outside bolt holes. They stick out of the block just alittle bit. Anyone who has done a head swap knows what I'm talking about I hope. Anyway, my question is, what does it do? Because one of them was stuck in the head that I took off and I forgot to put it on the head that I put on. Now I'm almost done with the swap. I can't think of any reason why you would need that there. Maybe it's to hold the head gasket in place while you're putting the heads on, but I have head studs now so they held the gasket in place. So am I screwed and now I have to take alot of stuff back off or is it okay? What does that thing do?
02-13-2003, 07:08 AM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? they are called "dowells" and the locate the head in the exact position it needs to be in. i myself feel they are very important, but i'm in the middle of my first head swap now, so my opinin is not worth much.
02-13-2003, 07:37 AM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? Yup.... they are locater dowels. Why did you need to remove them <img border="0" title="" alt="[Confused]" src="images/icons/confused.gif" /> Put'em in <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />
02-13-2003, 07:41 AM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? Thoses dowells locate the heads and gaskets to the block, there very important! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" /> Good luck with the new package.
Joe.
Joe.
02-13-2003, 02:26 PM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? Those dowls are critical to the alignment of the heads and block...
...break it down again, install the alignment dowls and be sure to use a new head gasket and head bolts....
...sorry!
...break it down again, install the alignment dowls and be sure to use a new head gasket and head bolts....
...sorry!
02-13-2003, 03:55 PM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? Okay, assuming that I did take it apart again to put the dowel in, would I need to use a new head gasket? I've already torqued the head down but the car has never been fired or anything.
Also, wouldn't the head studs act as dowels in this case? That's probably the main reason I forgot, the head gasket wasn't going anywhere.
Also, wouldn't the head studs act as dowels in this case? That's probably the main reason I forgot, the head gasket wasn't going anywhere.
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02-13-2003, 04:06 PM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? hm, I woulda just say go ahead and put em back in. You spent the money to mod the engine, and it would suck *** if you screwed something up and the cause was no dowl pins in place.
02-13-2003, 05:01 PM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? No the heads studs are not good enough to replace the head dowls and yes you should put new head gaskets on since you'll be breaking the seal to put the head dowl's back in. The head gasket is torqued in a sequence and in pattern to get the proper compressed thickness of the head gasket between the block and head.
02-13-2003, 08:28 PM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? Damn it. I don't want to have to go out and get a new head gasket. Does anyone have the PN and the price for a single head gasket?
Oh, and also, it's not that all dowels are missing. It's just on one head, one of the dowels came out with the old head, and I forgot to put that one in.
Oh, and also, it's not that all dowels are missing. It's just on one head, one of the dowels came out with the old head, and I forgot to put that one in.
02-13-2003, 10:05 PM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE!! replace that gasket too. a little money spent now will save you a whole lot of time and money later.
02-14-2003, 05:15 AM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? Those dowels are criticle.
There is even a measurement that describes how far they can protrude out of the head.
You have to have them....
Do not proceed past go, do not start the motor...
Tear it down and install them....
Good luck.
There is even a measurement that describes how far they can protrude out of the head.
You have to have them....
Do not proceed past go, do not start the motor...
Tear it down and install them....
Good luck.
02-14-2003, 08:01 AM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? I wouldn't worry about it. The dowels are not a critical part, at least not for operation.
Their only function is to locate the head/gasket properly. With the head studs and one dowel, you have located the head and gasket fine.
Their only function is to locate the head/gasket properly. With the head studs and one dowel, you have located the head and gasket fine.
02-14-2003, 04:54 PM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? I'm torn between tearing it back apart or just starting it up and seeing what happens. The time it would take to take it back apart and then the gasket are definite deterrents. I think I will just finish putting it back together (which I'm almost done with) and I'll just keep an eye on that portion of the head. You guys have made me paranoid. I was hoping you guys would say it's okay, but so far only one of you thinks so. If anything comes out of there, then I'll just take it apart again and put in the dowel. Hopefully it will last another month or two, that's hopefully when I get my ARE heads back and I have to swap them back on again anyway. Thanks!
02-14-2003, 05:03 PM
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Re: Almost done with heads install, but I forgot to put something in, is it important? LEAVE IT ALONE. IF THE HEAD BOLTS DON'T HOLD IT IN PLACE, THE DOWLES WON'T. C5JIM
