clean the surface on the head. i use a "new" wood chisel as a scrapper. be sure the cover is flat. the bolt holes are usually pulled down into "humps'. tap them back and clean the cover real good also. a little cement is ok. the stud idea is great. we used thread to tie the gasket to the cover and a lot of carefull positioning. pain in the neck.

"It ain't a truck if you can't hose out the cab."