Cam End Cover Gaskets

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Can anyone tell me the correct orientation for these please. Are the cutouts at the top or bottom when refitted. My old ones didn’t have the cutouts.

 

Charles
It doesn't matter but I always put the cut outs on the bottom so you always see the full gasket from the top. Apply a thin smear of silicone to both sides.
Tony

 

Why do they have the cutouts?

 

Thanks Tony.

 

John, To make it easier to fit on the studs, they tend to bind up when installing from the side especially the lower ones near the bulkhead.
The idea is to drop the cut out over the lower two studs then slide into place.
Tony

 

Thankyou Tony. I don't suppose I'll ever do it myself, but it's interesting to know.

 

Charles,
Early Dinos had cutouts in the end caps (oil filler, clutch spring mount also) that were oriented up so the end caps could be loosened to more easily remove the cam covers with having to take everything off.
You can see them in parts manuals, 206 screenshot below.

Since you have an M-series with mag cam covers I think all your caps should have these. (I have cutouts on my L-series).
They were gone by my early E-series and none of the mag end caps had cutouts, so the gasket cutouts could go down as Tony said.

FWIW, I take all the caps off to remove the cam covers anyway due to modern gaskets with a wipe of sealer.

Let us know what you find.
Andrew

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Hi Andrew,
My end caps have no cut outs on them.

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Great, they probably changed at M-series.
Might have been better for the gasket maker to skip the cutouts given the high numbers of cars without them.