Head Gasket and Bolts (Early 3.5 V8)

[CJD2005]

Hi All, hope everyone is well and keeping safe.. I have not been on here for a while, but would like to thank everyone again for the help I received about this time last year in getting my wedge up and running and finally through an MOT.

However since then I continue with hopefully resolving some of the problems I found whilst driving the wedge for the first time over the summer of 2020...

Overheating - Stuck thermostat
Oil leaks around Valley Gasket - currently putting down to a damaged piston ring on cylinder 4, backpresure etc.. So currently have the engine in bits!!!

So today's question is regarding head gaskets and head bolts, the engine had a tin gasket installed previously so intend to replace the same... However I also intend to replace the head bolts and can only seem to find the "stretch" type bolts, are these OK with tin gaskets?? I have picked up on the 14 bolt and 10 bolt situation so clear on that..

Whilst I am on I may as well mention the valve stem oil seals , I believe only the intake has them on my early engine, and I am looking at part no ERR1782 (for a stepped valve guide)... And nothing on the exhaust??

Cheers Chris

[Thundered]

I would get the best gasket spec you can afford - I used a compo type. You definitely need 'New' stretch bolts x 14. There have been the occasional types either forgetting or simply took the chance to re-use their existing bolts only to discover a compression issue soon after. One thing I love about RV8s, is that everything is still available at good prices - but do shop around. I marked each bolt with tipex at the 12 o'clock position so they'd be at the 6 o'clock by the time both tightening sequences were completed.

[CJD2005]

Also I'm looking at piston rings ref. RTC2408 are these correct for the compression ratio of 9.8??