My new manifold gaskets came a couple days ago and hopefully the week after Memorial Day I'll be able to get them installed. I'm planning on doing this right the first time. So far I've got:

Manifold/head gasket
Intake/exhaust gasket
New exhaust downpipe gasket
New carb gasket (the current one leaks, so what better time to swap it out)
New head/manifold studs and nuts
High temp thread sealer (the 3M stuff) Edit: Loctite 592, not 3M

Anything else I might need to make sure I do this right? What method should I use to properly torque the new studs when I install them into the head?

Any other tips or advice, as always, is more than welcome.

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

You will like the Aussie gaskets,I just installed them on my Daughters 72 Valiant and they worked beautifully.
HyperValiant

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1960 Hyper-Pac Valiant(rolling test-bed)
1963 Valiant V2OO(Son's summer project,- he just turned 15 )
1972 Valiant 4dr(Daughter Kelly's repair in progress)
1974 Valiant (v8) daughter Kelly's work in progress

Outstanding. I plan to install them dry, after a good amount of surface cleanup and cleaning the carbon buildup from the EGR out of the intake manifold (and plugging the hole as well if I can find the right size plug).

Still though, how tightly do I want to install the studs into the head? Just finger tight with the high temp thread locker, or is there another way to properly do it?

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'74 Duster w/ HEI ignition, beat to snot suspension, A904, 8.25" 3.55 SG rear, still being tuned up and gets 17 MPG

Know how they always build a better idiot? That's me

Clean the studs and the stud holes in the head, make sure whatever you used (brake cleaner?) to clean the stud holes is fully evaporated out of the holes, apply the threadlocker per instructions, then run-in each stud until it's tight. Easiest way is to put two nuts on the stud, use the front one to tighten the stud, use two wrenches to remove the front nut, let the threadlocker set up, then remove the rear nut.

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