well just caught this above and thanks for the advice. Very thorough. Tried one more attempt and if that fails I'll fall back to the above.

bought new felpro timing cover gasket and new pan gasket. I've used the permatex gray in the past with success so went back to that instead of the "right stuff" I was using. Took everything off the front once more and cleaned with gasket cleaner, brake cleaner and acetone. Let it dry and applied a thin bead smoothed to the timing cover and attached the new gasket. Then applied thin smoothed bead to the timing cover block face. put on timing cover loosely... then slid on the harmonic adapter well lubed around the seal... pulled it on with a installer kit and then retightened the timing cover bolts... yes not to tight. then put the car up and applied the grey to the corners like I always do with a thin bead on the face of the black front separate gasket, applied the other gaskets, tucked them under the front of the seal put a dap of grey on top and attached the pan. slowly torqued everything on. It all looks very well sealed and covered.. nice and smooth... now for dinner...and tomorrow I will fill with fluids and put the water pump back on and everything else.

If it doesn't work I'll head down the road Glenn outlined instead of the shortcuts I'm trying here... just never have seen such a seal issue... Thanks again...

p.s. not really to much of a pain in the car since everything is wide open.....