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Cappy yes there is a gasket for between the block and the seal retainer but I always just put a thin layer of silicone and no gasket. The way I do the seal is like this. I put the new rope into a can of oil and leave several hours. Then with the retainer in the vice I start to roll the new rope down into the groove til it bottoms out. If I cannot get the rope completely in place with my fingers I use a tooth brush plastic handle as to not gouge the new rope. When you have the rope in place you want at max of .020 and minimum of .010 rope protrusion out of each end of the retainer. Now put a small film of high temp silicone in between the halves, now put the 2 halves in place with the 2 joint bolts finger tight to hold the halves together. Put the seal retainer six bolts that hold it to the engine/rear main in place but don't tighten yet. Now tighten the 2 bolts that connect the retainer halves down to about 25 ft pounds. Next tighten the 6 mounting bolts down to about 25 ft pounds. The only failures I have ever seen on the rear main was caused by too much or too little rope protrusion and I have seen the retainer caps leak around the new seal from stress cracks.
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