Im no mechanic but im going to try to do it myself!!

Thanks heaps guys!

Mick.

yeah definately get the head flattened again, will be slightly over $100 all up including new oil and stuff

you do need a torque wrench and to know both the tightening and loosening patterns for when taking the head off and putting back on

If you buy an ACL had gasket they tell you the torque settings and patterns for removing and tightening the headbolts

Gasp, choke, gag
$400 to $600 for a head gasket job?
I used to be able to buy a "genuine" top overhaul gasket kit, at trade, for less than $10 & do the job in an afternoon.

Lets move foward into the 21st century. Even if the gaskets cost $50, combine this with a workshop manual, say $25 & go out & buy the necessary basic tools new, lets get silly & say another $50.
Allow a whole weekend, save a bundle, & end up with, 1. a manual, 2. some tools, 3. a running car, & 4, some practical experience. The skinned knuckles are free.

The chances of a damaged block are prectically nill.
If the car has a bit of mileage on it, then read the manual & pull a couple of valves out. If they are crook, get the head overhauled. If not, then just lap all the valves in & save another bundle. If you have a suitable straight edge, then read the manual & check it for flatness. If it is within specs, then use it as is & save a few bucks more . If not, then get it surfaced & be glad that you did the job properly.

Check the cylinder head bolt tension about every 30,000k or 20,000 miles & head gasket problems will all but dissapear. Hint. When checking the tension of an "in service" engine, loosen each bolt in turn a little, then retension. Why?.... Stiction.

Yeah, yeah, i know about monotorque gaskets. Re-tension anyway as alloy heads have a habit of compressing & releasing gaskets with each heating & cooling cycle & the gasket eventually starts to lose its ability to flex with the cycles. Retensioning once a year is cheap insurance against the inconvenience & cost of a blown gasket. This applies to "L" series Datsun engines also.

This is why the manual is such a great investment.
Chris
P.S. Check the library, they sometimes have workshop manuals. If it's not in your library, they might be able to get one in from another library for you. The tension wrench is a bigger spend item, but you might be able to borrow one from a friend somewhere. If yoiu plan on fixing up cars for fun, then save up & buy one someday.