Headgasket, which side?

im putting the heads on and i have a question about the headgasket. i got it in a kit and it tells me what direction to put it on but not which side..both sides say front on it, one is smooth and the other side has groves. i was looking around and some people say it dose not matter and its a personal preference. is this true? and if it is, whats your opinions?

 

ok thanks, which side will be better in your opinion though?

 

their are coolant passages on one end of the head gasket. the end that doesnt say front. those coolant passages allow the coolant to go from the bock into the heads. if you put those passages on the front end of the motor the coolant wont circulate past the cylinders then through the head. it will just go in the front of the block up in to the front of the head and out the intake to the t-stat.
dont worry about how the gasket looks, just put the front end towards the front and your set.

 

The word "front" goes to the front of the engine. 1 gasket will be "right side up" and one will be "upside down". They seal fine either way, it's really all about the water passages as explained above. Front is front, period.

SPark

 

There is no left and right side. As previously stated, "Front" is front.