Head gasket w/o fire ring?

[Geeky160]

When I diassembled my top end, my big bore head gasket looked like this. Did they use some kind of gasket that doesn't have a fire ring or did the guy cheap out on 63mm by removing it from a smaller gasket? I have alwayd had the oil seepage near the spark plug problem on both sides. I'm wodeing if this is why. I was going to use my donor head with broken fins but do you think a correct gasket will resolve the seep problem using the old head?

[Geeky160]

Someone on the twins site said I would be fine with the old pretty head and a proper gasket. Anyone care to comment?

[OldStan]

From what I understand seepage in that area on both sides sounds like the head skull cap casting problem with the head. I don't think the head gasket missing the fire rings is likely to cause an oil leak, more likely just a compression leak. Replacing the head won't necessarily fix the problem, the replacement could have the same problem- unless there's a way to tell before you install it that I'm not aware of.

It could be the cam covers leaking, but both sides at once is not so likely.

Just MHO, others may have more (or better) information.

[Geeky160]

Different boards, different answers. I guess I'll take my chances with the original head. Thanks

[Geeky160]

Good news if anyone reads this in the future. After replacing my head gasket, rings and sleeve and using my old head that had the leaking skull syndrome. The skull seepage has gone away so it was the missing fire ring causing it.