Anyone ever do this? I've read on-line just as many people saying it can be done with gaskets as just as many saying it shouldn't be done because of water issue the special gaskets are supposed to solve. Got this pretty stock gen V 454 and a set of 049 heads just sitting on a shelf looking for a home. It already has a (oval port) edelbrock airgap on it and being able to keep it saves a bunch of money.

The gaskets are Victor Reinz 4918 for the right bank and 4923 for the left

We tried it with horrible results. Filled two brand new motors with water ruining many parts. Very expensive lesson. Yes, they say it can be done but once water pressure rises, all bets are off.

drop heads on block with no gaskets. reach under heads and scribe a line along block edge. flip heads over. now you can see how much metal you have between water ports and cam valley. some are ok, some a little too close to the edge...literally. i have a set of high-time L29 heads. were on some kind of industrial motor. need 16 guides and valve job. $100. an hour north of you.

I've done it several times with no issue. Use the 17048 or 17049 head gasket and you'll be fine

That's just it, the motor I'm thinking about doing this to is a totally intact running motor. I will have to take it apart and the old heads off just to find out. Just was hoping that the naysayers may have been blowing smoke.
As for your heads. The only reason I'm thinking about doing it is because I have the heads sitting on a shelf that need nothing. Cost is a real issue with this project. If I cant do it off the shelf (beside gaskets) it's not really worth doing.

the heads on it are still peanuts. if you are gonna pass on it let me know. one i was gonna redo for this summer is .010 over with a bad crank. if i wreck a piston pressing the rod off i gotta rebore...yeah, these L29 spares i have need about 400 bucks in guide and valve job...but as lil red was saying, it rarely does not work.