My First Hiccup, finally put this to bed after the 3rd try Options

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When we returned from Rt66 '16 I pulled my exhaust system down for a little trimming and noticed water in the left bank muffler! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/WTF.gif) We did drive through a ton of water on that trip. Then when returning from Costco yesterday it acted as if it were starved for fuel when it stumbled during acceleration. The fuel filter was the same one that came on the engine so I ordered another one. When I looked at the filter to check which one I had I noticed the coolant level in the expansion tank/reservoir had dropped. Well, there you are. Head gasket time. Now, I'm wondering if the stumble was due in fact to the head gasket failing? Decisions; should I fix this one which presently has ~ 185K or buy a JDM replacement. After perusing the net I found a few peep's whose JDM experience was less than stellar. Apparently it is a crap shoot as to what you get and the 40-50K avg mileage is (IMG:style_emoticons/default/bs.gif) . So, for about 1K I can pick up another engine and hope I bought a good one or open this one up and hope that is all it needs since it wasn't overheated. What does the the Wasser family think?

EDIT: It's an EZ30D 6cyl

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It's back together. Is it healed? We'll see in a couple of weeks. If I have problems I'll slap another engine in it and be done with it. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) It was a maize at first but I got to know the engine which is a plus. I want to pass on a few things I found. The best fix for blown head gaskets is, as others mentioned Cometic gaskets and head studs. ARP sells kits with both the Cometic gaskets and studs for many engines. The EZ30 isn't one of them. Kits are available for all of the 2, 2.2 & 2.5's. I guess one could buy 2 kits for a 2.5 and have left over parts but at $400 a kit I'll pass. The advantage of of the head studs is they allow you to increase the torque to about 100 ft lb's. I'm guessing they are around 80 now but I'm not sure. They head "bolts" are tightened to "X" ft lb's then and additional 90 or 45 degrees, depending upon which bolt. Also, I got a quote from Subaru for all the little hose's, hose 90's, etc on the EZ30; >$400. Buying generic Gates 90's and hose it was < $80. I'm going thru my electrical again but will post that in my conversion thread. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)