Do head gaskets have an up n a down?

The only part of the gasket that sees the chamber is the inside edge. The gasket does not(or should not) stick in to the chamber, so how is the fire ring going to see the piston? The only thing it sees is the head surface or deck surface.
 
Flatjack. Not 100% sure how much of that edge is exposed, but most likely as you say, only the outermost edge, or perhaps 10-15 thou beyond that. The bore is 25thou over if that were to make a difference. On a slightly different angle, what would you recommend as a final head torque when using what appear to be original studs? I've heard a couple Barners say 55 though my rebuild manual says 60. Those guys are using new studs though.
 
I believe a standard gasket is good for up to .080 over. Over that you need the big bore gaskets.
There is no correct up or down, the gasket doesn't care. As there is a specific "front" you have one one way up and the other the other way up on a 59A. If there was a correct way and an incorrect way, the gasket on one bank would fail more often than the other.

Only the inner edge is exposed, it does not overhang the bore.

Mart.
 
Thanks Mart. I've installed the new gaskets now, and have the heads torqued down to 40lbs (my bad shoulder gave out before I could give em the final tweak). I plan to get back out there today and finish the job so I can fill the block and check for leaks. I have heard of 2 different torques though. My manual says 20 40 then 60 but I've heard some guys only go to 55 then retorque after running a while. Any suggestions?
 
Speaking of gasket preparation, I've heard a lot of different practices over the years. Most of the old timers I knew used to either use copper coat which is a copper powder based pigment paint or aluminum silver spray paint that has aluminum powder in the pigment. The silver worked well for me but sometimes you would get a leaker and they got sealant on both sides. I don't care as much about how hard it is to clean later as I do about it sealing up so you don't have to do it over. In any case whatever works for you then keep on doing it.
 
Glad to hear 55 rather than 60. I think my bad arm might fail to get me to 60. I'd have to swallow my pride and get my 14yr-old son to help! As for gasket prep, I applied a moderate coating of a product called Gasket-Goo to both sides. It's a chocolate-brown stuff, quite sticky in nature, which the makers claim is good for sealing just about any joint with the exception of exhausts. It is cleaned up with methylated spirits, so must be a spirit-based thing.
 
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