Glad you got what you needed. Owning an old CJ can be an adventure in parts gathering. I bet you're right about it being a '78 engine. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cheers.gif" alt="" />

258's changed in 79-80. The 79 was different from the 80. If your looking from the front i know that there is a different curve on the drivers side rear of the gasket between 79-80. I could draw it out for you. Maybe when i finish work and get get home and put pen to paper. <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/kewl.gif" alt="" />

Lubbock you really cannot depend engine changes in that close of a time period.. The damn heads were purchased by the carload and they were installed till they were out of them. Also the head bolts changed from some to other heads and the valve covers were different on each change.. They sort of built what they had at the time back then. And they never made a metal valve cover that will fit the gasket that fits the plastic cover.. It is the one with one side that is almost straight from one end to the other..
These are my findings anyway.. others may have found different patterns.
Big JIm <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/pfft.gif" alt="" />

Only reason i said that is that i did my head once same deal and did the engine same deal. Then i did a friends head in a 80 and anothers in an 82. So i went with the law of averages. Both the 80 and 82 were diffent from mine but identical to each other.