Head Bolts and Exhaust Manifold Studs

Before you bolt up the manifolds, read the article on www.slantsix.org. The triangle and round washers install opposite what intuition suggests. If you don't do that, the manifolds can later crack. Coat the center long bolt w/ anti-seize or it will probably break when you try to remove it someday. Snug those 3 bolts and the manifold bolts progressively, so everything aligns correctly.

Re "torque to yield" head bolts. My 1996 2.4L has those, but I re-used them when I replaced the head gasket at 100K (leaked oil, common problem, changed to MLS). I figured I would just yield them a little more. No problems, now at 210K miles. Slant bolts have always been re-usable.

Re parts, the slant was made until ~1983 so parts are available. Indeed, I saw a catalog recently listing new heads. But, later engines (~1976) changed to the "peanut head" (no spark tubes) and later to hydraulic lifters. But no need to pay big money for new parts when you can get a whole engine & tranny free, since most got to switch to a V-8.