They are all Siliconed on there is no gasket. Most car manufactuers do this to save money and create a better seal. I will usually remove the head in the buggy then lift the engine out by hand with a little help from a worker. as far as timing goes don't worry about it, just once you pull the belt try not to rotate the motor incase you have a valve in a downward position. The motors are suppossed to be interference motors, although you couldn't tell by my incredible luck at the meet lastyear. The timing marks on the engine and pulleys are cleary defined. We have one engine out right now at the shop and another coming out this week, customer brought us a unit with 60 miles on it that he dunked in the water and hydrolocked it. Some hillbilly tried to fix it, had cam timing all off and everything else. but the kicker is he did not notice the #3 piston was .120" below #2.. sure sign of a bent connecing rod. I will have to get pictures of the carnage as soon as he gives us the ok to pull it out and apart.