The difference in the quotes wasn't due to one including heads and the other
not--the estimates are $500 apart for the gasket job only.

But furthermore,  the mechanic with the cheaper estimate says he most often
CAN reuse the same heads, and the other fellow says almost always needs new
heads at $500 each.

Now, I don't wan't to just go to the guy who's gonna give me good news, but I
don't want to pay $1000 needlessly.  The engine has 99,000 miles and a pretty
significant leak causing obvious daily loss of coolant (ie, need to top it
off every day).

what are the probabilities here?

Thanks all,

Doug