Frank,

Please let me know if you want a full-lemgth photo of a 261 head gasket posted. Any chance you can post a photo of your 2nd gasket?

Here is a photo of a NOS 261 head gasket. Unfortunately, this photo just shows part of a gasket, enough to cover one-pair of the "siamesed" cylinders on a 261.

This cut-away photo of a 261 block from the 1954 Chevrolet Truck Engineering Features book will give you a little idea of the cooling holes/passages in the block (if you do not now have the head off the block).

Tim

Tim
1954Advance-Design.com
1954 3106 Carryall Suburban
1954 3104 5-window pickup w/Hydra-Matic
The 216 and early 235 engines are not "splash oilers" -- this is a splash oiler.