Head and cylinder base gasket

[Mitch81special]

Alright now this may be a dumb question but I cant seem to find the answer anywhere else. I'm doing a top end rebuild and I'm almost ready to reassemble. Do the athena gaskets from Mike's xs have a proper orientation? Theres nothing on them to indicate top or bottom. Specifically the head and cylinder base gaskets.

 

[5twins]

Yes, they will only fit on properly one way. If you look at them closely, you will see a couple of the stud holes are larger than the others and made to fit over the locating dowels. The dowels are located on opposite corners diagonally from each other (left side in front, right side at the rear) so match them to the larger gasket holes and you will be good .....

 

[Mitch81special]

Thanks 5twins, what about the cylinder base? And all other gaskets for that matter? Is it safe to assume that if theres no top/bottom label and it fits both ways, then it can go either way?

 

[5twins]

Well yes, I suppose, but most have locating dowels and bigger cut-outs on the gaskets to fit over them so they only install one way.