OK first off i hope im posting in the right spot. i have a 86 ranger that the efi has been taken off and the put a carb on it. it runs some what but it lacks a ton of power and i noticed that when you give it as it blows back out the carb (hope that makes sense) so i thought it was the timing i checked that and it was good next i checked the vacuum on it and it was showing it was the valves? so i went ahead and pulled the head and noticed that the head gasket in between 1 and 2 and 3 cylinders the gasket is broken about half inch gone not there so im wondering if i need to just get the head redone or is the head gasket the whole problem?

 

No matter what the head should be resurfaced and pressure tested.
And valve guide seals changed.

Then after cleaning the block surface use a metal straight edge and flash light to check for flatness.
Put flash light behind straight edge and see if light comes thru under straight edge as you move it down the block surface.
A little is OK, but if in question use a feeler gauge to get gap measurement

Then replace the gasket

 

but is the gasket my main problem for the power loss

 

Yes.

Compression = power, it is the rubber band, the more you wind up a rubber band the more energy is stored, so more power you get when it unwinds.
The higher the compression the more power is released when cylinder fires.

The breach between the 2 or 3 cylinders makes it worse, you got the blow back thru carb, that also prevents new fuel from coming into cylinders

 

thanks ill take my head to the shop tomorrow and rework it new seals and get it back together hope it fixes it