Head gasket right side up?

[MantaGreen97]

Sorry this one might be a little bit of a stupid question but just making sure I have the correct head gasket orientation. There is no "this side up" written anywhere on these gaskets, and nothing on/in the package that says anything either.

I'm assuming this is the right side up (side that faces the heads):


And this is the wrong side up (side that faces the block):


Is that correct? I'm just going by the way the OE gaskets were on there--the little exposed metal parts in between the cylinders was facing the head on the gaskets that came off, and I assume that's how I want it with the replacement gaskets.

[GPXSS]

wow.. when did they start putting the extra blue seal strip in the headgaskets?

Ive seen them installed both ways and I don't think it much matters unless the service manual states otherwise.

[MantaGreen97]

wow.. when did they start putting the extra blue seal strip in the headgaskets?

Ive seen them installed both ways and I don't think it much matters unless the service manual states otherwise.

Manual says to look for the "this side up", LOL. FelPro doesn't put one there

Oh and the extra blue seal is because they are FelPro PermaTorque SD gaskets, SD supposedly meaning "severe duty".

[GPXSS]

I looked at an older style felpro head gasket i had out in the garage, it did not have a 'this side up' stamp either.

[IsaacHayes]

If that's how it looked on the OEM gaskets, I'd assume that it goes on the same way.

[bjornmk1]

that's interesting.

I have the same gaskets that i'm gonna use for my built.
I guess it doesn't matter which side goes UP cause both sides look identical to me.

just my 2 cents.

[drptop70ss]

Just did a felpro headgasket install today, no "this side up" but I was taught to always install them with the side with writing on it "up"..so the side with the PN and felpro logo goes up.

[bszopi]

If you look at his pictures though, both sides say Fel-Pro.

[drptop70ss]

yep his is different, usually it is only on one side. Shouldnt matter either way then.

[MantaGreen97]

that's interesting.

I have the same gaskets that i'm gonna use for my built.
I guess it doesn't matter which side goes UP cause both sides look identical to me.

just my 2 cents.

They do? Look at the top pic again, and note the exposed metal between the fire rings.

Then notice the bottom pic does not have these areas.

I used the top pic as the "this side up" because that was the way the factory gaskets were

But I'm just glad I made a note of the way the factory gaskets were before I took them off there, because otherwise I would have been really puzzled, lol. I made this thread to be absolutely sure, but I'm confident I installed them right

Anyway the car is pretty much all back together again, thanks to everyone that helped me out with my various questions