I have a GM head gasket here awaiting my head install tomorrow. How do I tell which side faces up? One side is completely textured and the other has smooth spots and the part number stamped on it. Anyone know off hand which is up?

 

no idea, but i've always understood you should be able to read the part number or whatever other markings is on a gasket after it's installed. in other words the letters face the head.

 

It should just go in the way all the holes and stuff line up right, shouldn't it?

(ie. steam holes on a 400, coolant passages)

 

I went with part# facing up. All the holes lined up both ways so it is a toss up, if it matters at all.

 

It matters, but not much.

You want to look at the outside/lower edge of the gasket. There should be a notch cut out of it where a dipstick tube would go through into the block (on an engine that uses a block-mounted dipstick tube) If your engine doesn't use a block-mounted dipstick tube then go have a look at another engine that uses it and you'll understand very quickly.

In short, the smooth side faces towards the head, the side with the metal "skeleton" goes towards the block.