Head gasket, Which way up??

[thenewshooter]

Ok I have 99 Malibu 3100m that needs new head gaskets. I got everything cleaned up and ready to install last night. So I went to install the head gaskets and there is no markings for which way is up. I am using the Felpro gasket kit. The new head gasket has stampings on one side but nothing saying up! Looking at the old gaskets the stampings should be down but the manual shows it should up. Does the metal on the gasket between the cylinders go up or down?

[miss/she]

i think we might have the same problem. Long story short my car was overheating, change the themostat, flushed the coolant & heater core, the raditor hose practically blew up, changed it and after we flushed out the heater core, when connecting the hoses back together the plastic hose connetor broke, but the car was still running, and over heatin a little, changed the peice, went to start the car and now it wont start, it turns over strong but wont start. someone mentioned to me that i might have a blown head gasket but i am not sure. I know nothing about cars

how did u know that u did??? is it exspensive to replace??? I cannot afford a new car so i need to fix the hunk of junk in my driveway!!

thanks

[thenewshooter]

I knew my head gasket was bad because after replacing the lower intake manifold gaskets. The temperature was fine and heat would blow out the heater fine. Untill I drove it around and the heater would blow cool air and the temp would go up. Then I had to bleed the air out of the coolant and everything was fine again unless I drove it around.

As far as your problem goes. Did you bleed the air out of the coolant when you flushed it out?. Were you losing coolant before you flushed it? It is possible that you blew the head gasket. I was able to change it out in about 10 hours. And it cost me about $200 for the parts. If you do decide to do it yourself get the head gasket kit set. It should have all the gaskets you need to put it back together. Plus you would want a repair manual to help you along.