Stock 1989 318 w/ 48k Miles - Rebuild Recommendations

I like it. I have some commission mechanic friends who swear by it, but use it sparingly. An 1/8 to 3/16 inch round bead over each side of the gasket and spread it with your finger is plenty. Nothing wrong with that gasket kit, but it probably has equivalent to Felpro 8553 PermaTorque gaskets. Those aren't a bad gasket, and will usually seal when anything else won't. But the 4.18 inch bore and usually .051 compressed thickness usually loses a half a point in compression on a 318. On the 5.9 Ram shorty headers, they'll probably work. But, check the flanges, every set of used shorty headers I've seen need the surfaces trued back up on the belt sander.