Justin3, I'm sure in some cases you can just replace the gasket and thats the end of your problems, I just did the plenum gasket in my 98, it has 165,000 kms (Canada) which translates into something like just over 100,000 miles? and it was easy to tell that I wasnt the first one in there (felpro plenum gasket) it was the stock steel plenum pan and it was leaking quite severely in my opinion I actually suspect my cat is toast as a result....so what I'm trying to say is that

 

Darn, I keep doing that, anyway I buy into the "plenum bolts too long" theory, so the hughes or the $ 40 dollar ebay plate fixes all these problems and gives you piece of mind....for only $40 it could have saved my $100 cat and the extra time of re-doing the plenum gasket

 

IMO you might be able to get away with just the new gasket but if you can guarantee it won't blow again for $40 why wouldn't you? I also think you should do the timing set while your in there so you don't have to tear it apart again later.