8 to 10 hrs labor to change '225' head gasket ?????

sounds reasonable, show us a picture of said motor.
manifold studs are the pain-- the rest is not too bad-- I've never removed the 1st or last one without an issue, the rest can be had.

Buy some beer/food for a buddy(s) & have at it, price out the parts & then offer said buddy 1/2 of the quote cash is always good.

your in the hotbed of Mopars (Oregon)-- surely someone around you is knowledgeable on this.

the only thing I know is when you tear into something-- you find something else & then it snowballs.

Lawrence