when overhauling an Ea82, should it be taken to a machine shop?

One option is to read through the steps in a repair manual and see if you are up to it.  The factory service manual is available from a number of sources.

Edited September 27, 20169 yr by Crazyeights

How many miles?  What level are you going to [just headgaskets, or all the way to main bearings?]    What's the history - abuse, overtemp, etc?

what do you mean by overhaul?  complete bottom end rebuilt or just a headgasket job?

 

in general yes resurface the heads every time.

The engine has just over 200k, and has been pretty well maintained through out its life. (I am the second owner,o got it when it had 197k on it.) I plan to do the whole nine down to main bearings.