Mounting cylinder heads without a gasket?

[crazypete]

That SUCKS because:

1. I already invested in a new set of valves and springs and 1.7 roller rockers ~300

2. I've spent many an afternoon cleaning up these heads and porting them so I'm emotionally invested in them.

I'm aware that I need to drill the ends of the head to open the water jacket and the block (that should be sufficient to enable coolant flow, right?) and I know which water ports need to be plugged since they were plugged when I got them.

But the piston issue seems insurmountable to the home mechanic short of new pistons or.... boring bigger reliefs into the existing pistons. Could I "flycut" the stock pistons? I would need to do the absolute most horrifying thing ever and cut them while they are still in the engine (with a shopvac next to the bit to get all the filings). I remember that the stock pistons are pretty thick from when I did a rebuild the first time around. Is there any hope for me or does this spell the end of the project?