how aligned does the headgasket need to be?

[jt15833]

I've been working on my headgasket and finally made a lot of progress. I had the head decked, clean the block very well, using felpro headgasket with copper spray. the first time I put the head back on I moved the gasket around barely to where I thought was a good position. Unfortunately I didn't know I couldn't put the washers on the studs while the head was on the engine so I took it off to put the studs on and put it immediately back on. Now I'm paranoid that I didn't make the same minute adjustment to the headgasket before I put the head on the second time. Now I've already tightened the studs and put the timing belt on. It's definitely not too late for me to take off the belt and lift the head off a little to adjust it, but is it necessary? The headgasket was held in place already pretty snug because of the metal pieces around 2 of the studs, plus the copper spray hopefully stuck it down. Could not aligning the headgasket with your eyes cause maybe a firing ring to be inside the cylinder and cause the headgasket to blow again in a few(maybe thousand) miles? It's definitely on the correct way I'm just curious about the little bit of play it has while on the studs.

[davidricardo86]

Do not worry about it. If you installed it the "correct way" using the washers/spacers that go on the two studs, you should be more than ok. Those washers/spacers and the rest of the studs will help it sit where it has to be. If you tightened everything according to the studs manufacturer and followed Nissan's tightening sequence, you'll be fine.

Now you said you got the head milled but not the block? Are you using a multi-layered steel gasket or just a composite type? MLS gaskets require that both surfaces be machined to a true flat surface and checked for straightness, a good machinist should be able to do this.

[c-rad]

There should be two compression dowels that sit in the block and align the headgasket perfectly at opposite ends of the block.

[jt15833]

I do have the two compression dowels that align it i was worried about the small amount of play even with the dowels. I won't worry about it. Also it's a felpro stock replacement I was told the head would be enough and I cant worry about it now as everything is back together. if something is wrong when I'm done Ill have to handle it then.

[themadscientist]

The dowels are your friend. If it does fail be sure to get some the next time around.