m20 alignment dowel removal

[e30Rooster]

Is there an easy way to remove the alignment dowel from my block and head without destroying them so I can reuse them?

[jlevie]

Machine shops have some way of removing dowels that usually works. If I encounter one in a head that I can't pull with a drill chuck, I take it to my favorite shop and they get it out somehow. The head is going to the shop in any case for machine work. If stuck in the block I leave it alone because it doesn't have to come out.

[Cabriolet]

we use vise-grips wrapped in back tape and a dowel stuck down in the hole. if you are very careful and twist as you pull out they nearly all come out without damage

[ForcedFirebird]

There's a tool to do it, but if you fit a drill the correct size for the ID of the dowel and tape on the vice grips, they will usually come out.

I keep them in stock here at the shop, they are only $1 or so.

[e30Rooster]

thanks guys I just wanted to see if I even could pull it before I called around today to see if some local part shops had any.