My 75 Finally Gets The Attention It Deserves(This Could Take a While)

Yep they should have washers under the heads. Not a normal washer. Outside diameter is smaller. Did you get a new balancer or have that one reconditioned? There is a place that reconditions them. Almost the cost of a new one. As also I recommend getting a starter motor off a ram pickup, ram van, or dakota with a magnum V8 or V6 it's a mini Denso hi torque. It's small, weighs only about 8 lbs and has more power than your stock starter. I get em used from the junkyard for about $20. It's a direct bolt on.
Thanks for the washer info. It’s been 35 years since I took those bolts off so I had no clue. As for the balancer, in post 45 from May 15th I had asked if there was anything I needed to do to the balancer or if there was anything I should know about them before cleaning it up and reusing it and all I got was crickets, so I bead blasted it, refinished it, and had a sleeve pressed on to the sealing surface. Otherwise nothing’s been done to it. So based on your comment I’m guessing there was something else that needed doing?