I did search, but feel my situation is a little different.
Most people advised against it, but my engine hasn't even been started yet.
I bolted the head down a couple months ago, and just found out a few days
ago that the head was used for a ls-vtec setup, so one of the original oil passages
has been plugged. I want to unplug the passage so I don't have to build an external oil line. Anybody think I should still get a new gasket?

 

someone once told me that reusing a head gasket was like reusing a condom, you could do it if you really wanted to, but seriously... would you?

 

I would consider it if condoms cost 90+.

 

I believe its all in the crush of the gasket, not if its been run or not.

 

done it before; I had no problems.

 

REPLACE THAT ****

 

copper seal it i think it'll be fine.

 

I guess if it was a crappy engine I didn't care about I would consider it, but I'd be very weary. If I cared about the engine, I would replace it.

 

Replace, don't listen to these fools. 60 bucks vs pulling the head back off.....Hmmm let me think about that one. Gaskets are designed to be made of thin metal which is easily crushed upon torqueing on the head. The reason why it crushes it to form around the area it is closing off to ensure no leaks. If you reuse the same one and don't torque it exactly the same, you are going to run into problems everytime.

 

That is exactly what I thought, but I had a tech at a honda dealership say his friend with the same setup has used his headgasket two or three times with no problems. I am thinking I will most likely get a new one.
Thanks for the responses.