I got eveything stripped down to the engine block and I'm ready to reassemble. Does anybody know what the big seal between the valve stem seal and injector o-ring is in this picture? There are 16 of them that came with the head gasket kit and I have no idea where they go.

 

Those are your muffler bearings!

Sorry, I have no idea, dont put it back together until you find out though, you dont want extra parts.

 

I know, I hate extra parts! I got the kit from DAP and Atlantic British has the same kit, only itshows8 of these seals in it, not 16. Oh well, I'll call them tomorrow. BTW, this job in not for the faint of heart, those head bolts are TIGHT! I used a 2' breaker bar with 3' of pipe and it was not easy. I broke a socket and nearly had a heart attack thinking I stripped the head!

 

This forum is still a little goofy. ^^ It says I used a 2 inch breaker bar with a 3 inch pipe. No wonder it was tough.

 

A shop would have used a impact wrench and impact socket to remove the head bolts.
You could have used a impact socket, they wont break. At least not by hand.
They must be the o-rings for the fuel injectors or something, thats all that I can think of.
Good luck.

 

I received a kit that included those seals(along with a bunch of other various seals and gaskets that don't go to that engine)when I put a long block in a 2003 DII a couple months ago. I can tell you that they do not go to that engine. I still have them sitting in my box at work wondering what the hell they do go to........You are good to go, reassemble and don't worry about them.

 

Call and ask the people you got the kit from.

 

I gave them a call this afternoon and they were stumped. All they could say is it was probably for a different engine. I had a couple of gaskets I didn't recognize too, I though I would figure them out when I put it back together, so I'm glad to mentioned that Tacomatech. BTW I think you were right, my intake bolts were pretty loose right where it sounded like it was leaking from at the rear.

 

I also had those same o-rings left over after my head job.Some head gasket kits come with seals and gaskets that might not fit the egine you're working on, but will fit other applications.

http://memimage.cardomain.com/member_images/2/web/3002000-3002999/3002336_127_full.jpg