nelson9994

I built a high compression GSR with aftermarket cams, etc... I forgot to put in the dowel pins and I realized it after the motor was completely built. Are they necessary because if I can get away with it I will just run it like that

SL0WEGG

You need them.

95skunkedgsr

gonna be spitting oil all over with outem

96dxB16

Since it is how you properly align the head onto the block I would say you most certianly need them.

Mr. EG

Was this a serious tread/ question. Use your brain kid .

1998GsRIntegra

Honda put them there for a reason

PyroProblem

Dowel pins are overrated...

Let us know how long it goes before you start having issues...Ive never heard of this before and would like to see what happens

93egSLEEPER

spend $85 for a HG and save $3500 on a rebuild.

welfarepc

could probably even reuse the HG if the motor never ran. (even then you could probably reuse it)

i tq'd down my head, snapped a head stud (8th time being reused) threw the head gasket in a pile... then 10 months later (it was outside the whole time) i needed one in a pinch so i cleaned it off, and threw it in there.


17,000km later, no problems

1998GsRIntegra

More often than not you can get away with re-using a head gasket, but I prefer to avoid it because the metal gets distorted when it's torqued down. I've even heard of people copper spraying them with the motor appart at 80k or so then re-using them. Lol

DDTECH

Dowel pins help line everything up.. if you dont have any leaks or any leakdown or compression problems, i'm pretty sure you'll be ok.

PyroProblem

True...
Alot of torque holding that head down. I really honestly dont see anything more than blowing a headgasket.
All the pressure and stress runs vertically. There's not really any sideload (shifting) on the head. There shouldnt be any oil leaks cause the gasket is still doing its job...
Id just run it and see what happens...

Worst that could happen, blow a HG...dammmm...Run it and see what happens. Honestly, I would'nt tell you this if I thought it would ruin your engine or do serious damage.

90efhatch

I do not see it doing much damage other than the head moving around. If it was me I would redo it just because I would not want to deal with issues later.

egb18c5

i wouldn't take the chance for nothing in the world. no need to experiment, take off the head and throw them in there.

dgaf95integra

yeah just remove the head and put them in there and call it a day

egb18c5

as rocket said before on another forum, Why do you need perfect alignment? If the head shifts 0.020, no big deal right?

cant believe the response i'm reading on here, smh

Madmood

You built a high compression engine and forgot the dowel pins??? Seems to me that maybe you ruined the original ones taking them out then decided not to buy new ones to replace them.. We all have trashed a set or two. I am sure. And honestly, what do you call "High compression"?

mouab18c1

iTrader: (5)

Honda just wanted extra dead weight in these motors? Really?

PyroProblem

Ahh, well yeah IF it could shift .020" you could probably get some PTV contact, BUT CAN the head move that much? I never checked to see how much the head would shift w/o dowel pins.

On second thought, better safe than sorry. I wasn't thinking about the valves in relation to the valve reliefs. (its been a long week).

Rad Racing

Oh copper spray, I did this about 12 years ago, drove the car for about 10k and ended up selling it, saw it about a year later and it was still running strong.

OP, you "might" be ok, but I would just spend the extra hour or two and go back and make sure it's right, hell you might find out that you forgot to put the headbolts in too

00Red_SiR

Torquing the gasket down is ok as long as it isn't heat cycled, if it is it should be replaced.

99blackcivicSi

many motors don't use dowels to align the head onto the block VW loves to do that you however align it with either two old bolts or the special tool they sell for way to much money, i have done a few the first way mentioned and no issues at all.

As long as your where you need to be i would say your fine, and yes i would copper spray the gasket and reuse it all day long. you have about a 50/50 shot of being dead nuts lined up, if you have an oiling issue with a galley being blocked or a coolant leak from a small overlap then pull it back off and throw them on i don't think its going to be a huge deal honestly theres so little room for it to move around once the bolts/studs are in.

for piece of mind though i'd yank it back off it really dosn't take that long to tear a head off of a B series...30 minutes or so

CHEETAH

iTrader: (2)

if you have domed pistons (assuming cause you're in the AM section), you have more chance of the dome tapping head chamber, and maybe even the valve might tap if it isnt clearing the piston valve reliefs...

I've done it before in a bind and got it working fine but once the valve tapped the piston dome so had to take it off at the track to fix.

h2.4

Pull the head, put the dowels in. I guess it depends on how you use the car. "It'll be ok, its torqued down".... really?

00Red_SiR

There's been some "hella good" advice in this thread lately...lol Common sense should have been called uncommon sense, then it would be more accurate. The dowels are used to center the head because the head bolts are not designed to to that. There's a difference between what will work and what will last...