Hello junkyardhero, I like your name and I am guessing you don't like spending money where you don't need too. What do think of spending $200-$300 on Cosmetic head gaskets or head shims when you can make your own with flat piece of aluminum stock & use a head gasket as template, and for the good seal let's spray on a liberal dose of Permatex copper seal and let it sit overnight.?
i value my time so why would i play around with some cockamamie bullshit like that? i'd rather pay the money and have the car back on the road and enjoying it than trying to squeeze and nickle and get six pennies.
this is also discounting the possibility of damaging the engine, or screwing up the job-- thus doing the work twice, and probably having to buy the components you screwed up in the process.
but, obviously, your brain isn't wired that way. which, again, why this is just so damn intriguing. carry on with the chicanery.