RE: O.S .46LA Head Gasket Help
Yep, that head gasket/shim is soft ally, and on disassembly can end up either stuck in the head recess, or lie on top of the liner. You need to look more carefully before deciding you don't have one. Fuel on the outside of the engine is common, most of it comes from the carb, choking, starting backwards, idling, all spit some fuel out and it ends up on the engine somewhere, so before insisting that you have a head leak, just be sure that you do...It will be visible when running on the ground and will show you where it is...
Evan, WB #12.