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Head gasket direction (up/down)


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Lemonpie
User

Apr 20, 2013, 1:15 PM

Post #1 of 5 (19036 views)
Head gasket direction (up/down) Sign In

2002
Chevy Venture
3.4 Liter
142,000 miles

I am installing new head gaskets today. These are Fel-pro 9071 PT gaskets. I can't find any markings that tell me which side goes up. There are two differences in the gasket (side A vs side B). Side A has various markings (trademark etc). Side A is not sharp (die cut wise). Side B has no markings but does have a connecting land of visible metal between the cylinders (unlike side A). Side B is sharp (die cut wise). The paper in the package gives no instruction on this. I have searched for guidance from Felpro on line today at great length, no answer. I want to do this right. Thank you.
Lemonpie


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
Discretesignals profile image

Apr 20, 2013, 3:09 PM

Post #2 of 5 (18987 views)
Re: Head gasket direction (up/down) Sign In

If you look at the sticker on the box, it will list the components and part numbers that come in the box. If the head gaskets are different they will have a part number for the left and a part number for the right.

If the part number for both gaskets are the same, then they are both the same. You can also hold them together and make sure the coolant ports and bleeder holes line up to see if they are the same.

Once you determine they are the same, you shouldn't get them wrong. One gasket will be right side up and the other right side down. Just make sure the holes in the gaskets line up with the holes in the block and that no holes are covered up.





Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Apr 20, 2013, 3:22 PM)


Lemonpie
User

Apr 20, 2013, 4:17 PM

Post #3 of 5 (18982 views)
Re: Head gasket direction (up/down) Sign In

The two positions take the same gasket, that part is clear. I'm just unsure about which side goes up- the side with the Fel-pro imprints (trademark etc) or the plain side. The side with the imprints is less sharp, it is slightly chamfered. I expected to see "this side up" on one side or the other.
Lemonpie


Discretesignals
Ultimate Carjunky / Moderator
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Apr 20, 2013, 4:27 PM

Post #4 of 5 (18980 views)
Re: Head gasket direction (up/down) Sign In

Both cylinder heads are the same if you put them side by side. The only difference is they are reversed when installed on the engine. That means both gaskets are the same, but reversed when installed on the engine.

You just have to make sure that the holes all line up and no holes are covered up.

The head gasket looks symmetrical, so it doesn't matter which way it faces.








Since we volunteer our time and knowledge, we ask for you to please follow up when a problem is resolved.

(This post was edited by Discretesignals on Apr 20, 2013, 4:35 PM)


Lemonpie
User

Apr 20, 2013, 5:01 PM

Post #5 of 5 (18970 views)
Re: Head gasket direction (up/down) Sign In

Actually I don't see that one side is more chamfered than the other. But one side is more textured than the other and shows a full metal surface (landing) between cylinders. The other side has blue ink patterns and the imprints on it (part number and "PT" for Perma Torque).
Lemonpie






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