At 08:32 AM 09/21/2003, you wrote:

>I've always used wooden dowels, 3/8" I think. I figured this was safer, as
>there is a
>chance of scratching the head surface with a metal dowel, especially if you're
>working alone...

The top of my pins are nicely polished. A magnet won't get the wood out.
But a simple scribe pushed in the end would do it. I would polish the ends
of the wood as well. Don't want any slivers fouling the threads. 3/8" is
too small. For 11mm or 12 mm 7/16 would do a tighter alignment. You need a
precise pin, or you will have to shift the head and gasket to get the bolts
started. That is a very good thing to keep out of this procedure. Set the
head in place, screw in the bolts with fingers, no shifting a bit about it.