Head Gasket Orientation?

[Bordfunker]

Quick question before I torque up the head on my Herald, what is the correct orientation of the head gasket?

The WSM appears to suggest flat side down, as per the photo below.

 

Is this correct?

Thanks

Karl

[NonMember]

On the earlier, flat-top blocks, it doesn't matter terribly much. The later engines had recessed rings round the cylinders and the gasket must be the right way up on them, so they added a tab to show which way to fit it.

[DanMi]

The gasket clearly has a hole each end for the rocker oil feed at the rear, so it would seem that gasket manufacturer has made it so that it works either way.

[Pete Lewis]

when the combustion goes bang the fire ring part of the gasket has no idea which whay up it is so it doesnt matter  

if by design there is a way up they tend to mark it  "TOP"  otherwise its not a requirement  unless its not made to fit either way up 

getting it clamped with good nuts studs and washers with the sequential applied torque is the key 

Pete

 

[Bordfunker]

Thanks all for the feedback.

I was hoping to get the head on today, however I think I’ll need to address the heater feed stub as that is looking very crumbly, so for now the head is just sitting in place.

Thanks everyone.

Karl