Its been a while since I posted, but my aluminum block build is back on track and almost finished. I've contacted ARP, and found some aluminum block specific head studs (not slant) , but that spec out to work on the slant with minor mods. However my question is about sealing the head and copper gasket. Would it be wise to use permatex copper spray in addition to the gasket? any advice will be appreciated.

Why "re-invent the wheel"? See this link:

http://www.slantsix.org/articles/ARP-st ... um-arp.htm

Do you have a source that makes a solid copper head gasket that fits the aluminium block Slant Six?
(the last cast iron engine, solid copper head gasket I checked did not completely seal the Alm. block's water jacket)

And yes... sealing a solid copper head gasket is always difficult... even on a closed deck iron block so some type of sealer will be a good idea.
DD

Good, I was hoping to get that answer, thank you. I have, in fact seen that link, and studied it . I even sent It, and the letter you wrote, with your specs to ARP , nothing. I had to talk to someone from ARP at SEMA this year to get an answer. They sent me an non catalog part # and the specs. It was very close to what you spec-ed out, with the addition of a "bottoming nose" for use in aluminum blocks. I needed to trim the bottoming nose in order to get full thread engagement on the block side, but they fit nice, and with .010 off the block and .090 off the head, there is still plenty of thread up top.
I did find an NOS copper gasket from Olsens, I have a resto shop in Wheat Ridge Colorado, and have looked in to reproducing them, (as I'm sure you have as well) same story.

Thanks for the extra info... it is good to hear that ARP still offers those special head bolts and that you also have the copper composite OEM head gasket for the aluminium block SL6.

With the OEM gaskets, I make sure both surfaces are remachined and then spray both sides of the gasket with Copper Coat and install it.
DD