Sorry for getting back to you on so late this Doc. I didn't get a message notification. I have done this a couple times now and have not tampered with the hole size. I understand your concern with this. I was worried as well once but have not had any problems. Consider this a personal opinion only but I would not mess with it. These companies obviously put research into what they do and if they all do it or several of them do it there is a reason for it and it's not accidental.
Look at my last post again...I just used ITM, but Fel-Pro and Altrom all have the identical
sized holes there (photos off the Internet).
I will not risk screwing up this new head gasket by taking it apart NOW - unless
these guys justify what they want me to do - other than "it seems like a good thing to do!"
You have to watch out for that sort of thing on this and other forums...
