the head light problem could be a lot of different things. it could be the relay, switch, conections,shorts, fraid/broken wires, the head lights them selves, ect. i had a weird problem with the headlights on one of my subaru's where some one wired in a radio and it cut in to a power source that turned out to be on the same one as the head light relay causeing it to short out making the head lights not work.

I have an extra EA-81 y-pipe if you need it.  

There are two round silver relays under the dash next to the fuse box held in place by a rubber ring.  check if these are getting power from the harness. Also check if the headlight fuse is getting power from the harness.

anyone with an engine hoist able to help me this weekend?

 

got the engine installed and everything swapped, but somehow coolant got into the engine... maybe a bad intake gasket?

 

only have access to a garage for another week before I have to move it back to my driveway...

check your carb heat water passage thingy at the base of the carb, sometimes leaks when you dead head it for the weber swap. I always put a little silicone around mine, some others put jb weld in it.

I fear it may be a head gasket though... Thus the engine hoist request. But I'll check that! is it connected to the whole system inside the intake? I thought it was separate... and if you just don't hook it up it doesn't do anything...?

you would have to hook it up or cap it. If it just "wasn't hooked up" it would be spewing all over the top of the engine.