Put together my 418 SB stroker. My machine shop removed the head dowels and didn't replace them after working on the block.
Will my head studs be enough to keep them straight or should I take the heads back off and install the head dowels?

I wasn't concerned about it until a Chevy guy last night told me about some trouble he had with no dowels and using bolts.

Just wondering, I'm wanting to drop motor in today.

GO OR NO-GO ???

Definitely need the dowels. Head bolts alone will not align the head.

Leon

X2. You need them. And make REAL sure that they are deep enough that the head doesnt bottom out from it sticking up too high and hurting the head when you torque it down.

not using bolts, have studs in it.

I guess I already knew the answer to my problem before I posted my question.

Same happened to me. I got a dowel at Ace hardware and cut it down. Make sure it fits well in the head before driving it into the block. Don't ask how I know.