[Healeys] oil where it should not be

[healeymanjim at hansencc.net]

a new member joined our car club this morning.  he showed up in a beautiful, newly restored 65 bj8.  he has had it since 1970 and says he is the second owner.  he had it restored somewhere in california and the restorer had subbed out the engine work.  he stated he was having a problem with oil in his cooant, and had had it drained and replaced at least three times.  everything was stock except for a 6 blade fan and new aluminum radiator.  i took the cap off and stuck my finger in there to the second joint and it was all oil of some kind.  we ran it for a few minutes and i checked the sump for milky oil, but it was clear and was full to the mark.   engine ran fine with no miss, and i was in a hurry and forgot to check for air bubbling up in rad, but is it possible that head gasket is on wrong allowing oil to get to water but not the other way.  i told him i would check with "brain trust" and see if i could get some ideas on where to start.   thanks for any help.     hjim