> " hole   drilled into each exhaust port which then goes into the crankcase "
That  doesn't seem right to me and I've never seen it! It wouldn't vent crankcase gases but would pressurise the crankase with exhaust gasses. Crankcase venting is done via the pipe on the oil filler which vents gasses back into the plenum chamber.

There’s a slight difference in the holes for the cooling ducts between early and late head gaskets. A Lancia engineering change notice states that early gaskets can be used with the later heads if an extra hole is drilled in the gasket. So if using a later gasket with an early head, the extra gasket cooling hole shouldn’t make a difference. So our advice is that if in doubt, use the later gaskets. Small changes to the Gamma engine were applied often and not all changes were at the introduction of fuel injection, normally referred to as S2 although strictly speaking there was never officially a series 1 and series 2 Gamma. What we normally refer to as series 2 was simply a facelift and the introduction of fuel injection for some markets. My file of Lancia Gamma “Engineering change notes” is a full A4 folder bulging at the seams! But as you are sure you have S1 heads then you might as well use the early gaskets. The full gasket set comes complete with manifold gaskets but they are the thin ones and not the thick spacer gaskets. The engine in my car is the opposite of what you will have. My car is a "series 2" coupe with fuel injection but I have series 2 heads (I think!) with series 1 bottom end. I have replaced gaskets with early ones, on which I drilled the extra hole, and with the later ones and they worked fine. I have also had the inlet manifold fitted with the thick spacer gaskets and the thinner paper gaskets and both worked equally well. The thick spacer gaskets can be reused.

what are the difference between head gaskets for early or late engines? also i noticed on one   head there is a hole   drilled into each exhaust port which then goes into the crankcase what is this for as on the other head it appears to be blocked off by hard crud of some sort but you can just see a tiny hole so could be drilled ok i assume these take crankcase gases out of exhaust in the flow?

Hi Theo thanks for the link i was going to order the head gaskets from the consortium today using the new e mail address but noticed they stated that they stock head gaskets for early and late engines so what are the differences as i now have a late series2 block with early series 1 heads which head gaskets do i order also do you know if they stock the intake manifold to head spacer gaskets.
thanks
Keri

For torque settings look at http://www.lanciagammaconsortium.info/htmlfr/gamma006.htm

The Consortium can provide all gaskets. Engine gasket set comes without the head gaskets which are sold separately. 

Thanks for the replies thats good to hear i can use the series one heads i say heads as i looked at the opposite head and that has cracked also really bad i think it was caused by the recent cold spells the car had no antifreeze in after i flushed it out i left water in to rinse it it before adding antifreeze but life got in the way oops anyway onwards and upwards i will order gaskets from the club do they come with torque setting?  or can you help with this also.
thanks
Keri

I agree and second all of the above.
Heads are the same and interchangeable. Camshafts are slightly different but still can be interchanged between S1 and S2 cars. I am told that an S1 cam in fuel injected engine will give slightly more power but I am not sure that's true. But do not swap the bridges or cam carriers as they are matched to the head and should be numbered accordingly (as mentioned above).

The actual heads are the same, in fact n/s and o/s
Heads are the same so you can just swop the
external parts and the cam shaft of course, you
must keep the camshaft carriers as they are
matched to each head, you will see matching
numbers on the carrier and the head.

Hello to everybody hope you all had a good christmas i did up until boxing day when i found  had some spare time to fit finishing touches to the 3 year gamma restoration like numberplate boot carpet front scuttle ect just small things before i could actually drive for the first time since owner her as I've only ever driven her up/down the drive however as i was fitting all these bits the engine was running so i cold warm up make sure all was well before the big drive to test the car and auto box as i have never tested it before and to take some pics to upload to the consortium then i noticed water running from the n/s of the engine  close look i found what looks like a corrosion hole between the exhaust manifold and water pipe on the n/s head I've wiped it away but it just keeps coming from this possible crack or it has corroded from inside out and the heat as finished it off so i need to replace the head  but have a couple of questions as i cannot be the only person to swap a head on one of these beautiful cars anyway i have a spare series one head i think as it came from a engine with fuel injection but the series one spring loaded belt adjusters and no cam plastic cover backing plate so assume series one if so can this head be fitted to the series 2 engine i would like to swap the cam and rockers from my original head is this possible also? and anything i should be aware of when stripping /rebuilding the head any help would be appreciated thanks Keri

Lancia Gamma berlina 2.5 manual for sale.  January 1980 RHD, originally UK-registered OGC 155V.  Last UK road tax expired 31 December 1983. First taxed in Ireland 12 July 2011, expired 30 June 2012. Odometer reads 26100 miles. I am reluctantly selling this car because I have no storage space at home.  I bought the car in July 2021 for €2550.

The following work (€7259.04 expenditure) has been carried out since I acquired the car: PAS pump relocated to front of engine (new pump); complete new Lancia exhaust system; engine oil and filter replaced; coolant replaced; new air filter; new plugs; new drive belts; four new brake discs; four rebuilt calipers (from Gamma Consortium); full set of new brake hoses; full set of new brake pads; new front suspension bushes; new bonnet gas struts; alloy wheels refurbished; four new tyres; twenty new wheel lug nuts (OE Lancia); new battery; new fuel pump and filter.

The car was resprayed black by a previous owner; its original colour was silver. It needs new paint; there are several areas of surface bubbling on body panels. No evidence of structural or other serious rust or damage has been detected during the work listed above.

Oil pressure shows low, but I understand that this is a common problem and is related to the gauge and not the pump. The car starts, drives, steers, stops and handles well.  The engine maintains a normal temperarure in urban traffic and on the motorway.

Everything electrical works – but not always all the time.  Electric windows are sluggish, as is the central locking; I suspect that cleaning all electrical connections will solve these issues. Blue L-logo upholstery; edge trim missing from rear of driver’s seat.

I have been unable to extend my garage to include this car, and so I rent a parking space in a closed mult-storey car park five miles away, and this is proving to be an impediment to regular work on the car. This car deserves a good home with a Lancia enthusiast. The car is located in Dublin.

Open to offers.  John Larkin; tel +353 86 812 4637, jfllarkin@gmail.com.