Thank you for the replies.

What would be a more realistic price for the valve job/headgasket?

Would the [$1200 to $1800 price range] apply to both the valve job and the replacement of the head gasket? or just the replacement of the head gasket?

That price range sounds a lot better if its for the whole thing.

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One other thing, the following was shared by a neighbor not sure if this is an educated or non-educated guess.
His opinion was that currently the bottom of the engine is settled with the presure offered from the top of the engine, and that if the valve job was to be done, then it would put a lot more pressure to the bottom portion of the engine and eventually that lower part would go out too.. Is this right?
Thanks again