[jackoporsche]

I can offer some information on the head vs. barrel dilemma. I have a very similar situation with my 62,000 mile '90 964. My oil leaks are from the same areas and my car has the early style barrels and needs head work due to worn exhaust valve guides. I have removed and disassembled the engine and am on my way back together. The route I chose with regard to the head gasket issue was to send the heads to Ollie's in Santa Ana for the guide and valve job. They can also mill the heads to accept a steel shim head gasket. No modifications necessary to the barrels, and they will send the gaskets back with the heads. They tell me this was the original fix from Porsche before new barrels came into play. The shim-type gaskets are a current Porsche part number, though I do not know it yet.

I chose to split the case to inspect my main and rod bearings and crank journals and to get a fresh bead of Loctite 574 between the halves, though I didn't see leaks at the seam. Since my goal is a car I can park in someone else's clean driveway, I'm all about the total reseal. I got the Reinz crankcase gasket set from Pelican which turned out to be a complete collection of all seals, washers, o-rings, and gaskets needed including front and rear crank seals. Hope this info is useful.