curious about valve lash setting/check

thank you, do you have a suggestion for the t-stat housing? I have an assortment of gasket material and was thinking to use the rubber-cellulose (calls out for water/coolant). the Edelbrock intake is a nasty looking casting at the thermostat (pitting and such). I can run to the parts store if need be.

How BAD is it? If it's all that bad, you can fill the pits in good with JB Weld to fill it in and then file it back down smooth.