Base gasket leak. Do a top end?

[Eavedesian]

I have a 96xp 787 with 145 pto and 148 mag compression. Stock piston size. It had a water leak coming out of the base gasket right behind the rotary valve. 2 questions:

1) Could I get a couple seasons out of a honing and new rings? Or leave the same rings and slap it back together with new base gasket and don't hone. Or quit messing around and send it out to fullboreonline?

2) what do you use on base gasket to seal with some pitting on jug surface? I know its normally dry but wanted to take extra precautions.

Thanks in advance.

 

[mikidymac]

You could try some Threebond 1211 but in reality the pitting could be bad enough that you won’t ever get s good reliable seal.