Today I hit a couple of snags. My goal was to set the cam timing, so I started by finding TDC. I bolted the timing disk to the front of the cam and I screwed a pointer to the alternator bracket. Next I offered up the new head gasket, but the head bolt holes for the dowel positions are too small. I'll have to talk to the supplier why this is, but I'm expecting to have to buy a different one. That's my first snag.

To press on, I swapped back to the old head gasket and bolted the head down. I then refitted the pushrods and the rocker gear. I tried to turn the engine over, but it locked up near TDC. There was obviously a clash between valves and pistons, but why? It turns out the pistons are pocketed for myold head, which has 33.5mm exhaust valves but the new head has 35mm exhaust valves. I'm going to have to take the pistons out and and get bigger pockets machined for the exhausts.