You're mistaking "common" for "normal". While it's not uncommon for the head gasket to be at fault it's also not uncommon for valves to stick open on more than one cylinder especially when you consider that many of these old rides have been sitting for a long time with old gasoline in them. I speak from experience because every valve in my 38 had to be driven out after running it on old gas (bent two pushrods in adjoining cylinders). Plus there have been numerous posts in the past dealing with stuck valves. Which is more common? Beats me but I like better odds than betting on a head gasket over stuck valves. Especially considering the symptoms outlined in JD5 original post. You might be right but then you might be wrong.
