Water Jacket ~ Purpose?

[Infidel Edition]

OK. So when I swapped the head on my '89, I noticed that the head gasket didn't have an opening to match the water jackets.

9996

Notice the water jackets on each side of the bolt hole.

There is a pair of water jackets on the end that are matched

9998

So on my '89, I drilled out the gasket. It lined up and worked well.

NOW... I'm trying to come close to blueprinting my engine. So I don't like the idea of buying a gasket and cutting it.
And then noticed that NONE of the gaskets have the openings that match the water jackets.
The block and head match... but the gaskets all block them off.

I did a search to see if the coolant flows through them... but to no avail.
Closest I found was someone that sealed them with JB Weld to show how little they're needed. He claimed that they were simply manufacturing defeats. ...or residuals sounds better.

Does anyone know Hard Facts if there is an actual purpose to the water jackets?
And if there is any value to drilling them out in the gasket? or is it better to leave them separated?

...........my logic is, wouldn't that inhibit the flow of coolant?

[4.3LXJ]

I wouldn't drill them out. You want to maintain the proper flow through the block and head. The holes you see in the deck for the water jacket that don't have gasket holes are for removal of casting sand after the block has cooled, along with the freeze plug holes.

[Infidel Edition]

Thanks
I knew there had to be a better answer than than the gasket makers are in error....