Need advice on head gasket replacement!!!

[CKKrause]

I had a couple of bent valves. So I removed the head, replaced the valves, and after cleaning up the head and block surfaces, I started to put the head back on... It was here that I ran into a problem. The alignment dowels are on the head and I just can't seem to get the gasket lined up on the head so that I can locate the head on the block correctly!!!?? Even with a 2nd set of hands we weren't able to do it? Why the hell are the dowels on the head and not on the block?? Anyway, can anyone give me advice on getting the head correctly aligned on the block while keeping the gasket in place? I gave up for the night...

Thanks for your responses!

-CKKrause

[stu328i]

umm...you need to remove the dowls from the head and insert them in the block . then place the gasket on the block. then place the head on.

[CKKrause]

That's what I figured... So I tried to pull them and put lots and lots of pressure into it, such that I was worried I'd break or bend them and they still didn't move! As a result, I thought it was me that was looney. Well, I'll crank harder and we'll see.

Thanks!

-CKKruase