Hey Runonbeer , high five to me too, with many thanks to YOU !!
My leak was in the head seal only, so i left the QA alone. Took the advice of a link on DieselGeek's instructions about compressing the springs/moving the cam to the most-outward position, not by looking in from above as in the video here, but by removing the black 10 mm timing bolt in the center of the large brass bolt on the head, inserting a drill bit, and watching the bit while turning the crankshaft until the bit is farthest out. That worked.
The first time the job was slow and excruciating, but everything seemed to go as it should. Yet I had some nagging doubts: the head was a bit wobbly as i fiddled on various parts - not quite as firm as the video implied - and i did hear a little creak as i tested it by turning the crankshaft by hand when it was all back together. So after a worry-filled night, i got out the next morning, and - after Facet-pumping fuel in to prime - it turned right over. What a relief!!
But ... fuel was dripping out the head worse than before !!
Luckily, DieselGeek includes two seals in their delivery .. "Just in case", they say. Well, this was exactly why.
Today's work, a week later, was a lot quicker, naturally - the personal tools and techniques were all ready. And when i got the newly-installed seal out, the cause of the new leak was obvious. I had not taken enough care to make sure that the seal was well-seated all the way around, especially down on dead-bottom where it is hard to get because of tight clearance at the cold start solenoid (?). My impatience on that part had consequences: the seal had been pinched there as i eased the head back in to place, about 1/2 inch was sheared off to half its original diameter.
So, to make this long story short, any of you all who try this job for the first time, be sure to take a long thin tool (I used the back of the pick which i used to nab the seal to ease it up for cutting) and a good mirror, and be sure to gently work that seal in all the way around, including way down bottom where it's hard to get. Then you'll do the job only one time, not twice like me!!
Anyway, this time i had no worries about it again turning right over. And then: Looked underneath as it idled, and it stayed dry as a bone. Success!!
Thank you all, and DieselGeek, for such good instructions about this job.
Barry