Today I started putting the engine back together - first I had to fit the KTuned elbow on the head, which required drilling & tapping an M6 hole, and tapping the EGR port off #4 to block that from the water housing (using 1/4" NPT sleeve & 1/8" NPT plug)
OEM head gasket this time, no more DNJ
head positioned on the dowels at each end
head torqued to spec in 3 stages, 29ft/lb, 90º, 90º. I reused the head bolts - no stretching on any of them checked as per the shop manual
Assembled the valve train & cams, (sealant applied to back edge of carrier that falls outside back of head)
Cam timing verified prior to installing the tensioner
marked chain links used to locate reference dots on cams & crank gear
Timing cover & mating surfaces all prepped, so tomorrow I can get the rest of it back together, then I'll pull the transaxle & install the 4.00:1 ring & pinion