Head on

Tools

Double checked my torque wrench was calibrated with a couple of known weights and created a couple of guidance dowels to help re-locate the head correctly first time.

More Cleaning

Perhaps some paranoia about clean bolt holes, merely following the Haynes manual procedure, ensuring there is no oil or muck at the blind holes to avoid any chance of cracking the block when tightening. Compressed air followed by a rag and visual inspection.

Perhaps now just putting off the big step...

Head on

Cylinders back a touch from TDC to avoid any risk of contact.

New gasket in place - double checking orientation with the picture of the old one - turns out it will only go on one way round anyway. 

Looks really nice compared to the old one!

...and slide the head back on, down the temporary dowels to locate smoothly on the block. With no picture since I had my hands full!

New head bolts then lightly oiled and fitted - 20Nm intermediate, 40Nm full torque then as pictured 90º smoothly for final tension  - all in the order as specified by Mr Haynes.

I couldn't wait to get the followers all back in place - so many of them - and all had to go back exactly where they came from. It felt like this on the face of it simplest step was just waiting for me to knock the box over or be disturbed mid job and lose track.

...and pause.

Leaning over the car is less than comfortable and I'm in no rush.

The next steps - cam shafts and timing - all need equal amounts of clear thinking to get right so now feels like a good logical point to take a break.