[SoCal LS-L]

Bare bones minimum.... lots of labor and a head gasket set. Of course you would definitely want to do valve cover gaskets too since it would be cake while the engine was out.

Im a firm believer in doing the easy stuff first though...... at least buy a new thermostat gasket for 3 bucks and see what your thermostat looks like. Have you seen any evidence of coolant in your oil or vice versa??

The block tester kit works on ALL cars that overheat as a result of HG leak..... or it wouldnt affect your cooling system at all (there would be no compression into cooling system or coolant leaking into cylinders, either way there would be exhaust gasses in the cooling system which the block tester would pick up).

I strongly suggest with limited funds that you eliminate the easy stuff first, you have nothing to lose by checking..... and wait until you are sure its a HG before opening that can of worms.