[Jack21]

A case could be made for either side the embossed area on a copper gasket faces. Look at how it interfaces both ways, aand do it the way it makes the most sense. Do use the copper RTV, though. Just a small bead. Stuff works better than I expected.

The gaskets aren't wildly expensive. If you use the ones you have, and they leak, how much of a hassle is it to replace them?

Gaskets leak or blow out when not properly supported, or squeezed all the way around. If your header flange is flat, beefy, and no irregularities around the mating surface, it may work fine with any gasket, or no gasket - just the RTV. SBF's have one bolt on either side of each exhaust port. Loosen one bolt, and you know where the gasket will leak, and eventually blow out.