Why not get the proceedural instructions, read them and see if you understand them well. Perhaps if you feel semi confident then try to enlist the help of a friend who perhaps has a little more experience if you feel it is required. Theretically just following the step by step proceedures will get you there. Everyone that has changed a head gasket had to do their first one at one time. Like most things in life the first time is the hardest. You express the motivation to do it. As others have mentioned you have to make absolutly sure it is leaking out between the head and block of course first. I would suggest doing the 617 first. If you go for it. Remember you will need to borrow or buy a good torque wrench for this procedure. One other possibility is to repeatedly clean the area of leakage if it is in a return passage area with laquer thinner. Then try an external seal with silicone. If you can suck all the oil out with the thinner from the area it might do. Providing it is in an accessable location. You will have to wash the area down several times at least. It only stands a chance if the oil is gone from the area. I have changed too many head gaskets on my vw diesels over the years for just the oil leakage problem myself and thought if I ever had to again I would try the external seal in that area first. The vw return passage area is located in a good working location though and if the siicone did not hold really does not compound a later head gasket change in any way. The last suggestion is also dependant on how much leakage is present as well of course. If it is pouring out forget it. Never set up a senario that could result in a loss of the engine. A moderate seep would not disturb me to try it on.