I'm going to stop by Ford tomorrow as I need to pick up some parts anyway and curious to what they'll say, if indeed all made like that. I'm surprised though, I put this same post on 3 forums and you're the only one who knew this, and there's been 100's of views.... and very few replies yet.

 

Wow really

 

ok, got a few more replies on other forums and yes it is indeed manufactured as so, here's the info anothor posted as why:

If I'm not mistaken, that's just the way they looked. This was the same gasket from side to side, just turned around so the specific holes lined up.
The heads WERE made with different passages that sealed up the required spaces.
However, these holes in the picture are not seen on cars (because it's really hard to see back there), and are on the econoline with it's removable doghouse.
In the front of the heads/intake, these are the coolant passages. They aren't used in the rear. Therefore, you can use the same gaskets for both sides and save 10 cents for every gasket

 

Yes but the reason that you can use the same gaskets is that both heads are exactly the same. To use a driver side head on the passenger side just move a few plugs and flip the cam and go.

 

yeah, that's moreless the right answer actually....