But the splitting isn't even the worse part, its putting it back together. A set of those stupid flex extensions and one of those universal jointed sockets helps a lot.

I'd agree with slantzilla though, my block had a lot of staining around the driver side of the block from the exhaust. I used a feeler gauge and felt around the gasket area, come to find out some of the gasket was blown out. I didn't even hear an exhaust tick.