[dude]

Well crew - lesson learned. Bad leakdown test was the result of failure to spend the money a Porsche adapter so I could use my engine stand last year. This led to assembly of my motor lying on the bench. I must have bumped the head gaskets somehow as I put the head on. (I left the cams intact so 3 heads, etc went on all at once.). Gravity no doubt acted upon said gaskets, they got a bit out of their groove and now will be replaced.

Learn from my mistake gentlemen!

Now, if i have a shop clean up the sealing area on the head and cyl tops, do I machine the other side an equal amount? It doesn't leak, and so far I have not disassembled it. What's the max that can be removed without fear of impinging on valve/piston clearance?

Somber dude.