[spadefoot]

Putting new Head Gaskets in. My head are machined and good to go. I cleaned up the block mating surfaces really well. On the All Wheel Drive Auto Website (see below) he recommends using a fine sandpaper and sanding block on the engine block to clean the surface. The sanding block makes sure you stay nice and flat. The problem is that it is hard to work around the Head Guide Pins that are stuck in the block. Are these removable. Any suggestions for cleaning this area up?

Subaru Head Gasket Repair - Seattle Subaru Repair

 

[idosubaru]

Just get close to them and work around them, you'll be fine. It won't matter and that's not where the gaskets ever fail anyway.

But yes they're just guide pins so I'm sure they can be removed.