Was going to put my heads on but the mahle 5746 gaskets don't have a marking for what side up or down. One side is consistent dimpled?, The other has dimpling and raised material around bites, water ports, etc..

Any suggestions?

 

My local machine shop uses them and honestly just sold me a set a couple weeks ago. He said numbers up is how they install them.

 

First pic, numbers up is the way I installed mine.
Now is the time to MEASURE your deck clearance.

 

I did. It is .025". The mahle gasket is .028". Not much quench at .053", but with the someone dished piston I don't know what effect it will have.

 

I'm certain that there is a preferred installation orientation, but in reality we are sealing a casting against a casting. So long as the holes are properly aligned, I am betting that joint will be sealed either way. It is tantamount to someone accusing you of putting an O-ring in backward.

 

I will install them writing up. At least that way the uniform surface is facing the block. Heads are brand new aluminum so shouldn't have a problem on that side.

 

Heads almost installed. Gaskets writing up.
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