Why are you pulling the cab, you can remove the heads and install studs with the cab on.
The only thing extra thing you have todo is remove the RF tire, fender well, and the cover on the evap box..
As for the fire thing, if I have to spend the night I would dig a hole for the fire and to sit in. If you could get to the ground would be the best but that might be tuff late in the year.
I would be a cold night, I hope I never have to spend the night.
You don't need to pull the head to see if the pistons are install right.. Take off the Y pipe and see if the ring gap is in the port.. The ring gap should be facing the intake side.
Thanks, as for the cooler goes, I cut the factory cross over tube off, and welded on a 36" u cooler on the factory coolers and I left the front cooler in there..