wildcobrar

Try to stay with the .040 stock thickness gasket. You will lose quench and power with the thicker head gasket. You could just buy rod bearings and hone the block and get the 5.0 fly cut pistons placed on the rods and with new rings you would be good to go for sure. I have run the 1.7 rockers with the forged 5.0 fly cut pistons and the E303 cam without trouble. I clayed it and it was close (just over the .090) that was mentioned above. But again, always clay it and see where you are for clearance.

tinman

If you are running an auto trans you can get away with .080 clearance on both sides.
Don't freak if you mock up everything without the head gasket and get say .060 for the clearance because the head gasket will get you .040 anyway.
DO NOT go to thicker head gaskets like has been said, they will kill the power.
BTW, it's a shame that we can't someway have a head gasket that would work with Aluminum heads thats about .030 thick.........