Exhaust manifold gasket

[rasouth]

I'm in the process of replacing my heads on my '96 4.0, 95tm head casting. While tearing it down I noticed that there was no exhaust manifold gasket. This car has been in my family since new so I know the heads have not been worked on before. Was this normal procedure for Ford? Not that it is a big deal. I did not have an exhaust leak or anything. Just curious.
Should I use an exhaust gasket on rebuild if it did not have one to begin with?

 

[974X4BLACKSPORT]

FORD has been doing it that way for a long time, at least sice 71' that I know of (no head to manifold gasket). However, I have always renstalled with a gasket.

 

[koda2000]

Not just Ford. GM too.