I just did with 800 grit. Just enought to knock the ridges down.

Looking closer at the surface, I think the shop just used that big belt sander that sits in a tub of water. All the marks were long ways front to back, not circular side to side.

the gasket brand is "suzki engine parts"

Have you checked the head with a straightedge? Check the diagonals.
It is rare for a belted head to be true. Up here the shops use the belt for exhaust manifolds but have discontinued using them for headwork.

Working for an Tier1 OE supplier to Ford GM and Chrysler and the innovator of MLS gaskets - (yes, Europe had them first) I can tell you our MLS gaskets are screen coated with a sealant already in production (in 95% of applications) In some cases they are completely coated, others they are selectively silk screened in specific areas warranting the sealant.

Whatever you do - FOR GOD SAKE NEVER, EVER, USE RTV on a MLS head gasket. Believe me - I've seen it happen and I'm fixing it now on an abandoned Starion/Conquest project

If the mood moves you to use something, generally a cooper spray will generally be sufficient to hold a gasket in place if your head doesnt have locator pins (which our 3.0L's have).

In those rare cases where a factory applied sealant is not used on an MLS, then generally the gasket itself is enough to seal the head through various other fancy technologies ("coin stoppers", stamped ridges, etc).

Best of luck,
Jim

Thanks. I will follow up.

After reading a bunch of stuff about needing to coat these things with spray ...I put the gasket on dry. (I actually flipped a coin)

It went swell, and the truck runs. It seems to get hot quicker than before. Not overheating at all, but just less than 5 minutes and the the coolant temp is 180 or better. might be the weather, ya think? I suspected combustion gasses leaking into the water jacket. I dont know...it is not enough pressure to open the cap and fill the overflow or anything. But, with the cap off it never seems to stop bubbling, like I cant bleed the air out.
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As for the engine itself, I dont think I like aluminum blocks. Otherwise, it seems good enough.