at wits end

Correct. Cooling system pressure test is the next step.

It failed coolant pressure test, but there's some other pressure test that will determine if its a headgasket or intake gasket leak

I give up, I'm just going to keep driving it, pulled it back apart, had head rechecked, resurfaced, new bolts and new felpro gaskets, still burning coolant.

Before you put it back together, check your cylinders for cracks.
A member on mazdatrucking had a crack in a cylinder, so the leaks aren't always in the head.

Problem solved....... well sorta. The burning coolant was caused by a crack in a water port in the intake. Now on to fix other issues.

I recently bought an 89 extended cab 2200 for $450, why so cheap? Burned coolant like no tomorrow.

I figured the head gasket was bad, I took the head off, but there was no obvious leak, nothing I could say YEP that's the problem. SO I brought the head to a machine shop. Was told it was pressure tested, and had new valve stem seals installed, valves ground etc.

before I got the head back, I decided to also have a block rebuilt, I pulled one from a junkyard, and had it rebuilt as well. (both parts and labor 820 for the block and head). I would have been thrilled if everything was good to go.

Sadly after getting everything together, it was filling cylinder 2 only with coolant, and not slow either! So I took the head back off, returned to the shop with the WTF question. NOW the only issue I saw it could be is there was a spark plug insert in the head, but it was installed at an angle, not perfectly aligned with the stock spark plug hole.

The shop pressure tested the head again, and found no leak. (not sure how this is even possible)

resolution, at least for me, was having a different head redone (used a different shop this time) and all is well.

by the way I used a fel pro gasket both times the head was reinstalled, which I trust.