so about that head gasket....
 

can you torque the stock bolts to the appropriate 75-80 lbs and be better off? or would that do nothing? if so why not?

If your going to go through the trouble do it right with APR studs

would doing that without taking the head off at all, leaving the stock gasket, be of benefit to longevity?

I have asked several people regarding this. Here's kinda the info I amassed.

1. the stock head bolts may have stretched. You can retorque the headbolts, but dont crack em loose. If you do, replace the head gasket...

2. To use ARP.. you gotta take off the old bolts and redo the head gasket (at that time.. do it right). Sounds like a lot of work.. but at least you wont be dealing with planing heads or other severe issues.

I am ignoring my headgasket. So far, there are no signs of trouble. But my engine is also a rebuild and it isn't a stock head gasket. However, the headbolts are stock headbolts. As of yet, I have no idea what they are torqued at, but it aint broke, and I aint fixing.

(unless I go there for a different reason and it just happens to be easy to do along with a different repair/enhancement)