Head gasket question!

They should be the same regardless of application. I don't know if the dual plug or other heads have some weird deal though.

make sure the 2 block dowels are in good condition and no junk in dowel holes. After you get all the gasket material off and clean out the cylinders, thoroughly rinse both block and head surfaces with ether starting fluid and a clean rag. Also bring all the pistons even and apply some gear oil round them along the walls, so it seeps into the rings to lube them since you were in there getting dirt and solvent in it.

put gasket and head on... have all head bolts nice n clean (assume you cleaned out block threads too) and put 2 in the middle DRY and make them tight with a regular ratchet. Then put the rest of the bolts in, with oil on threads, make them snug. Then take out the first 2 and lube. I don't know of anyone that does this but in any event it will prevent oil from squeezing out the threads all over the gasket.

I don't think the Aerostar 2.3 is the same block/head design as our Lima 2.3's....

Ash

sure they are! ive seen late 80's 2.3 areostar vans (not disassembled) the look identical ..cant imagine ford would go out of there way to re-invent the wheel (so to speak)

yeah must be something clsoe. People use the aerostar header as a mid-length header for mustangs.