when i built my dx motor, i bought a head gasket set from BAP-GEON for $90. As long as the head or the block aren't warped, the gasket doesn't make much difference unless you're making 300+hp (which you will not). A leakdown test will tell you if the rings are any good, or if the valves are the culprit of compression loss. If the rings are shot, then rebuilding the head won't fix anything. It's best to know that before tearing the motor down. There's a link to my civic build through the links in my signature. You might find them informative for what you want to do.