Weird cyl-head water leak

[wilf leek]

Ok small block gurus, lend me a hand.

I have noticed a water leak from my 351w stroker with edel Vic jr ally heads. I finally tracked it down to the head/block joint, just above the oil filter. The pic below shows where it is coming from. 8000 miles on the motor.

here are the symptoms:

1/ No overheating or cooling system pressurisation
2/ No water in the oil
3/ definitely not running downwards from the inlet manifold sealing area
4/ only get about 10 drips from it as it cools
and is nearly cold after a run - doesn't leak when hot or stone cold.
5/ no biggy - water level staying relatively stable
6/ engine has never been overheated, but gets regularly thrashed

So - my guess is that it is coming from the head gasket - probably the forward connecting passage betwen the block and the head.

I have some options:

1/ it ain't broke enough to warrant fixing it
2/ it should get a new head gasket and check head for warping.
3/ dump some coolant system sealer stuff in there and pray.

what do you reckon?

PS - leak/leek - I heard it already.