some better news - I (finally!!) got some parts and was able to make prigress on my car. The dumbass who took my order didn't get me my intake mani gaskets though. I called back even after the first time to make sure they ordered the upper and lower - he said yes. Called back yesterday to make sure everything was in... same guy he said yeah. GO there, and ends up being the same guy, he gives me my headbolts (which by the way they got me studs in instead, not a big deal I guess... kind of a bonus except I had to pay more). Then he proceeds to say he remembers talking to me - but that he never ordered any manifold gaskets or even talked to me about them.
I kind of wanted to punch him in the adam's apple.
ANyways, spent a few hours this afternoon bolting up the exhaust side and the head, put the cams back in and did the belts and stuff. Tomorrow - IF my gaskets are here - I'll do the intake side and hopefully have it all buttoned up and running by tomorrow evening!
PS - guys with studs, what did you torque to? I torqued mine to 85ft.lbs I didn't want to go higher cause I still have a composite gasket and figured 85 would be sufficient.