Depends on where the groove lands. Is head or the block o-ringed? Or both with receiver groove? Pics of groove….

 

I've not had it apart - but my understanding is that its the block only.. Which is why I was thinking that a high quality gasket at slightly overbore to the O ring grove would work (at least in my head!) - but there might be reasons that it wont!

 

I would consider the o-ringed copper gaskets the best way for what you are doing . Unless you torch one or somehow damage one, they can be cleaned up and reused many times. Important to put them back on the same side they come off of.

My racing program always improved when I quit trying to see what I could get away with, verses fixing things properly....

 

I take your point - and its a good one... but this motor is now fitted to a car that is insured and registered to be on the road (not that it really is) - I'd like to be able to occasionally drive it around the block without worrying that it'll need head gaskets retorqued when it gets back!

 

People using copper gaskets generally insist on a couple heat cycles and a re-torque before use.
Not sure if you were aware.
Good Luck!

 

After the initial re-torque, I ran some on a street truck for years without issue. It wasn't o-ringed like yours but I venture to say that something is a miss with your setup.

 

Copper with orings is a pain in the ass. I avoid these days if possible. I have ground the deck with wires installed, used standard gaskets, and it worked fine for an NA application. Don't think that a broach would do it though.

 

You can use copper wire and file them down.

 

O-rings and copper here with no issues . 10s of thousands of street miles

 

I had a weeping issue with mine at first as well. O-rings in the block only, copper gaskets. What I did was pulled the heads off, and smeared a little bit of silicone around the water passage holes, re-installed. Zero issues now. And I spray all the nitrous I can cram in over 2 systems lol

 

You can clean up the copper gaskets wth thinners and then spray a couple of coats of VHT Coppercoat or Blue Hylomar on both sides of the gaskets to seal the coolant weepage/and any oil seepage.