It would not make you life easier. Better bolt the exhaust on after the head is installed. I screwed the new exhaust studs in and routed them into the manifold while installing the head this way:

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Btw, protect the head with cardboard from your gasket kit while you positioning the head, to ...

Hi All. Getting ready to reassemble my engine with a new head gasket in a week or so. Does it work OK to pre-install the exhaust manifold and turbo when lifting on the head? I have another person to help lift it on. Thanks.

I am preparing to replace my head gasket and am not sure which camshaft locking tool set to get. I'm leaning towards IPD - 121804 kit but it looks like the same no name kit I see on Ebay for ⅓ the price. I may only use it 1 time, so don't want to pay too much or get a shoddy tool. I'd appreciate any ...

It does sound like coolant seeping into cyls after it cools down, rough start due to moisture , after it warms up the moisture clears out.
Same thing happened to my old volvo 740, the definitive test was block tester fluid to detect exh gas in the coolant.
I would do that first to eliminate the ...

I have exhaust gas getting into my coolant and symptoms of a blown head. I read that I should go with the Volvo brand for the head gasket but what about all the other seals? On IPD and FCP Euro I see kits from Victor Reinz, Elring and Mahle. Any recommendations? It's a lot of work to cheap out on ...

Take a good look at all your vacuum lines and induction hoses. They all need to be tight and clamped

On a rough running car, all those codes are meaningless chatter turbo valve has nothing to do with idle , so that’s not the cold start fault.

You will need tools and dirty gloves to inspect ...

A 3 week trip kept me away from this issue. I got a new Pierburg BCS/TCV installed. After 5 days the issue persists. At this point I am going to take it into a mechanic and pay for a couple hours of troubleshooting. I'll see what they find.

Update. Check engine light resolved 1 week ago and car has continued to have a slight rough cold start but otherwise smooth operation and good power. This morning had a recurrence of the bumpy rough cold start and check engine light came on. Had low power accelerating so felt like underboosted turbo ...

Read some more. I'm going Pierburg.

Phew. I passed the block test so head gasket is intact.
Performance is still significantly improved after cleaning the MAF sensor. With the P0299 turbo underboost code, I am thinking to change my TCV as it may be worn or clogged.
IPD TCV came installed on the car when I bought it 8 years/46K miles ...