Pinto Car Club of America

I'm trying to install the head on my 2.0 Pinto, and I am having some difficulty. The dowel pins don't seem to be aligning correctly. Does anyone have any suggestions or ideas that might help me out?

If you have some long enough drill bits with the proper diameter, you can put them in all four corners of the block(where the head bolts go, of course) and just lower the head down over them. If you don't have long enough bits, go to a hardware store with a head bolt, and buy some wood dowel stock in a smaller diameter- cut to the correct length  (down in block plus through cylinder head with extra length to grab and pull dowel out when done)- put in head bolt holes- slip the head over and down into position. I had long drill bits- worked great- a little cussing 'cause of the awkward position to place and weight, but it worked out fine.
ENJOY! ;D

From my vague memory, I do not believe the 2.0 engines use head locating dowel pins.  This made head installation a PAIN when leaning over the fender holding the cast iron head.  The Ford manual says to use special tool locating pins.  I made my own by cutting the heads off two old head bolts and welding a smaller rod to their tops for removal once the head was located.  The long drill bits or wood dowels mentioned by Redeless1 should work also and sound easier.

Just in case you have not seen it before, vorn oben stamped on the German head gasket means top front.