Do I replace head gasket on 96 3.9 Windstar?

My "96" 3.0 has 219k miles. I do all the maintenence on it. I keep up with all the oil changes and nessecary repairs. Recently my radiator blew a o-ring at the bottom of the plastic tank. It blew when I was driving on the interstate and noticed when I turned on the heater no heat came out and I smelled antifreeze. Shortly after it was running a little rough. I pulled off on the next ramp and saw fluid all over in engine. Van sat for a week before I replaced the radiator. It was only 2 1/2 years old. Parts store replaced it on lifetime warranty. After the radiator was replaced engine ran rough. I checked plugs and they were at 60-65ths. 20 over so I replaced plugs and wires, they were due. Also, plugs were not wet at this time. I also recently replaced thermostat, lower ball joint control arm and belt tensioner. The mechanic wants $1020 to replace headgaskets and send heads to a machine shop for re-work and valve seals. My delima is, is it worth doing the head gaskets. This van is a second weekend receational vehicle for me. It's not worth more than a $1000. I hate to give it up, but don't want to sink a lot of money in only to have a lot of furture problems. Any advise would be apprecieated. Should I do the work my self?

Are you sure that the head gasket needs to be replaced?
Do you need to add coolant? (remember, it can take a while to burp the air pockets out of the system).
Coolent in oil (www.blackstone-labs.com)?
Head gaskets are not a common failure on that motor, I am guessing you are thinking that way because of overheating?......but it takes quite a bit of overheating to do that.

I have now have water in the oil and oil comming out at valve cover gaskets. Took it to mechanic and he did test to confirm. He called it a head test theough the radiator.

I don't know about the 3.0s but the 3.8s had headgasket problems on the 95s. Newer 3.8s have trouble with the intake manifold gaskets going bad.

I would give http://www.steelseal.com , a try!
If it don't work, you can get your money back.

do a google ''youtube auto steelseal''