Head gaskets

["Gegg, Bill" <billgegg@ci.antioch.ca.us>]

Started assembling my rebuilt 289 and have been reading the threads on
intake manifold gaskets.  Which brought my problem to mind.  I am up to
the part where I install the head gaskets.  I must have thrown out my
old gaskets which I now need for comparison.  When I put the new head
gaskets on, it appears that a couple of the water passages in the front
of the engine block are blocked.  The passages at the rear of the block
line up perfectly with the holes in the head gasket.

Normal or not?