I discovered an oil leak on the spark plug side of my head at the gasket, I lose a lot of oil. I pulled the head of my parts car and am wondering what steps I should not overlook before swapping them and replacing the gasket. I am currently getting 154 across all 4 and dont seem to have any coolant in the oil or vice versa. Should I reuse the head bolts, if so from which head? Should I use the pushrods from the original head or from the donor? Also how can I be shure the ports are both oval, as my 76 b210 4 door sedan (donor) has, going into a 76 b210 coupe.

Thanks in advance, Keith

All the A14 head bolts are the same, so no worries there.

Both should have oval ports. You'll know when you look at them.

Just scrape off all the gasket bits, make sure both mating surfaces (block deck and head face) are absolutely clean, wipe it with a cloth with a bit of ether (starting fluid or rubbing alcohol) to clean off any grease, chase the threads clean (I use a spare headbolt with a slot filed in it as a tap) and make sure there is no water or oil left in the bolt holes (blow it dry with a bit of hose).

Then put it together, torque to pattern with a torque wrench and you'll be good to go.

I did have similar problems with those embossed gaskets, but the more traditional ones never gave me much trouble.

Which pushrods should I use? Should I give the whole head a bath in hydroseal and is there any work I should do to the head prior to installing it?

Quote:

What bolts should be used with an "old" A12 block getting an A14 head? A12 or A14 bolts?

I reckon the A12 bolts. The center bolt is different, but the A14 bolts have a higher torque rating. Six-dozen one-half the other.