there tight, but I don't believe they are undercutting the gasket. It is something I will watch for when putting on a new gasket and something I was aware of avoiding when doing the eyebrows--- and a good point Guy-thanks.

Would I not see some evidence of a breech of the fire ring?

I order some Victor Reinz gaskets today for the head-9.98 a piece closeout on Rock-auto!!

The first picture of the gasket looks like a possible leak in the lower right of the fire ring. Head gasket leaks are hard to see......a leak down test is a must as compression tests don't always show the leak. My son's BMW turbo engine had a leak that was compressing his cooling system. Turns out it was caused by oil being pushed out of the head stud threads and getting under the gasket. I never really could visibly see the leak, but the machine shop could and a new gasket installed on a super clean and dry block solved the problem. Good luck .......Guy

Took the head to a machine shop that had a good straight edge. With the head assembled he couldn't measure straight down the center, but either side of it was FLAT. Measuring diagonally he was able to get a .015 guage under the bar around the center of the head, but not sure if that was anything definitive. New gaskets are on the way and i think I will use some copper spray this time.