i agree even though you saw the 750 price on the ls your going to be in way over that when your done not to mention if it costs 1000 dolars to change a head gasket not tellin what they will charge you to do a swap.
so change your own head gasket, get the haynes on your car and just take your time. might need to take the head to a machine shop but it will be less than 1000$ and alot less than buying everthing you need for an ls then getting it put in.