I'm a firm believer in Fel-pro head gaskets after years of T&E with engines that tended to use up gaskets. If all the surfaces are properly trued and meticulously cleaned, Fel-pro eliminated all issues. In addition, I'll have to admit to spraying a light coat of silver paint on both sides of the gasket.
Fel-Pro offers a copper gasket Fel-Pro #7619C@ $26.00 for all you copper fans. I've also used the Fel-Pro #7619B composite @ $17.00 and an upper gasket set with copper gasket #HS7619C1 @ $40.00. Personally, I'd go for the #7619B and forget all the band-aid snake oil products. They have their place but I don't think they're necessary when using a quality gasket.
As for retorquing.....with modern Fel-Pro composite gaskets and quality machined components, I also 3 stage torque and have noted that my original torquing specs held.....making reetorquing a non-issue.
Dave
