[Vwdiesel] '01 Jetta TDI, Head Gasket

[Dave Cook]

My friend's TDI Jetta seems to need a head gasket.  For some time, it has been losing coolant mysteriously.  No leak has ever been observed.  Recently, I saw bubbles going into the reservoir tank.  And on a mountain trip, I could smell the coolant being released from the cap as the Jetta worked to drive up a steep road.

So I think I will be replacing the head gasket in the car.  

It has 184,000 miles.  We kinda figured that the timing belt would be replaced, but not the hardware as that was all replaced at 130000ish miles. 

So the job can be planned out, what all else would you recommend doing at that time?  How about the head?  Assuming everything looks ok (and checks out flat, etc) would you worry about reworking it and such?

Other things to consider? 
Dave Cook