What do you mean by "It did seem that the gasket didn't exactly match either the head or the block."
- The cylinder holes should have matched the holes in the gasket.
- The head bolts holes should have matched holes in the gasket.
- Water passage holes should have matched holes in the gasket.
What did not match?
There might be a useful code pressed into the block just to the rear of where the distributor goes into the block. You might as well try to confirm the year/application of your engine.
What brand and part number gasket set did you use?
