Anybody ever cut the head off a old head bolt,cut a slot for a screwdriver and use for a dowel to help when installing heads? I'm worried about damaging gasket. Not as young (or strong) as I used to be.

You mean you want to use it like a stud to help guide the head down to the blcok them remove it when you intsal a few bolts? Don't see why you couldn't. But the block already has those little dowels in it.

I've done that exact thing for lining up other heavyish parts , but I get a LONG bolt with a lot of shoulder length , cut off some the othe threads so it comes out faster and easier , I use bolts like that for lining up the pump on a 727 , putting the tail back on also, putting a 4 speed back on a bellhousing ....

I've done it many times with other parts and it works great. I haven't needed to do it with my heads as I run studs instead of bolts.

1 word of advise, round off the tip of the stud you make. It wil make things go alot smother.