Is a 731 bored for lift dowels ?

[jeffnhiscars]

Im finally about to drop this head on Alice and I see the head is not bored to accept the dowels that support the lift hook. I have no problem not using them but am curious if they are all like that and whether theres something Im not considering that would make it matter

Surely one of my friends down under would know :-)

[digger]

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=11_0403

different upper cover and hook though both are 10.5mm according to real oem

11141277419

the one i have doesnt have a hole for it either

this pic has a hook

https://www.pbnation.com/showthread.php?t=4783209

though hole doesnt look 10.5mm so maybe its not dowelled https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...k/11141277419/

[jeffnhiscars]

That realoem pic does show dowels but this 731 has no recess to accommodate them.

If youre saying your 731 doesnt have dowels either then Ill let it go

[digger]

the one i have has no space for the dowel that realoem says should fit. i'd just use the appropriate hook and see how the timing cover sits as the hook acts as a spacer. you want some kind of hook to hook onto

[jeffnhiscars]

the one i have has no space for the dowel that realoem says should fit. i'd just use the appropriate hook and see how the timing cover sits as the hook acts as a spacer. you want some kind of hook to hook onto

Thanks for the input and I agree. The "appropriate" hook though only has one hole so I'd have to use a washer to compensate for the missing thickness on the other side.... or use a generic metal strap and drill the proper size hole just to position the head with then reinstall the original hook.

I'll look at the dowels to see if I can come up with a shorter version to support the original hook since I don't think it's structurally critical so anything close should work for the install.

I also highly doubt that lifting the head without the dowels even with both manifolds attached, will cause any issues. We'll see.

[jeffnhiscars]

as it turns out the dowels also locate the timing cover so form a mechanical lock between the head, hook and cover. Since it's designed to lift the entire engine and we're just lifting a head, I took the dowels to the bench grinder and removed the portion that fits in to the head.

Since all the 731s don't seem to accommodate dowels, case closed.