if the motor is tight and original, I wouldn't bother with the J heads. I'd just keep what's on it, on it.

if you do pull the heads, I'd look for some of the (sounds like now discontinued) .028" thick Mr. gasket head gaskets...last I saw, amazon.com still had some.

I'd probably just keep the stock intake on it, it's a pretty decent piece, unless you plan on using a square bore carb...

for a cam, how big is the whiplash? I would keep intake duration 218 or lower. I used a comp XE262 in a stock pistoned 360, with cheapie hedman headers, an RPM air gap, and eddie 600...it ran real strong.