At TDC there's only 0.045" of clearance? Yikes. Here's to hoping I'll get off with just buying new gaskets/bolts.

Thanks for reminding me about the 6.5 Fel-Pro gaskets on 6.2s. I'd read Jim's article in the 6.2 Volume II book a while back, but had forgotten about the guidance. Since my block is a 599 and won't have the extra water passage of the early blocks, a pair of Fel-Pro Q9701PT gaskets are in my future.

Thanks again for the help.