This questions seems to have been pounded in the dirt between different forums, yet i still am yet to have a clear understanding. My new headgaskets have a metal ("sliplate" according to what i've read) side and a seemingly normal graphite gasket side with a white stripe going around it with a "R" and "L". My questions are A: which side goes to deck and which goes to heads? B: Left is driver's side and right is passenger side?

 

Left & Right are based on driver's perspective. Left = driver's side, Right = passenger side. Also, Left side has the valve cover with the oil fill cap in it, Right side valve cover has the breather/pcv hole in it.

As for which side of the gasket goes down, as long as you put the "left gasket" on the left side (same goes for right side), it's going to be obvious which side goes to deck. There are two raised locater "pins" in the block that match up with holes in the gasket, so it can only go on one way.
Here's a screenshot from a video showing the heads off the block, & the locator pins. Perspective of camera is on Left (driver's side). Yellow arrows added to show locator pins.

 

And don't reverse the heads. That would not be good.

 

Got it all figured out. Preciate it fellas