So I've run into a bit of a problem, one of my cam journals is scored kinda bad - I'm assuming it would be cheaper to throw a new head on, correct? Or could this be fixed rather easily?

 

Hard to tell how bad it is from the photo. As dumb as it sounds I have rubbed down a couple scored cam journals with fine emory and ran them.
If it is severe enough you would want to just find a new head. Repairing it is possible but it will cost a lot more than a good salvage yard head.

 

carefully smooth it all out with like 800 grit sandpaper. it will be fine. extra room for oil now. no problems.

now put your head gasket on correctly this time

 

Knock the high spots off with emery cloth (cam and journal) and run it. There's virtually no load on those journals, it doesn't actually matter what they look like as long as there's no metal-to-metal contact.

 

Alright, thanks I'll try emery cloth. What grit should I use? Never used emery cloth before, sorry i'm a noob haha

 

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but 220 might also work. a little rough for my taste though.