if you put your mind to it, you can do it. i dont know whats involved with taking the head off, but look at me: i basically rebuilt the transmission of our '42 ford pickup as part of my senior project, and ill be honest, before i started i didnt have much knowledge- it was the first time i had done something like that. i recieved minimal help from the owner of the shop i worked at- he told me which nuts/bolts to take off, which pieces needed to me machined/replaced, etc, and how to put it back on, but i did nearly all of the work myself, which i was surprised about. in the end, its all nuts and bolts...
do some research online, get to know what you need to do, and then go and do it, helps to have someone helping out as well... i mean you might as well go slow and give it a shot, seeing as that the car cant be driven right now anyways, right?
anyways, good luck, that was my shot at trying to inspire you
I'd say this has been a very reliable car for me considering I drive the wheels off of it. 
