To update; I have several hundred miles on the gasket re-torque. I did have some remaining ooze from the front timing cover, and re-did it last month also.
Currently we are having cold nights, down to 17 or so (cold for Texas) which definitely exacerbates any gasket issue when the cold engine is fired up.

And........yes I do have just a little mist of oil residue on the block under
cylinder 1. Maybe equivalent to 2-3 drops spreading across the block face. Nothing at all further back near cylinder 6, where it leaked before.
I'm hoping it's just leftovers I missed cleaning up from the previous leak that saturated the edge of the gasket along that area; but it's sure a lot less than I saw before.

I'll keep my fingers crossed - as I ponder my seeping tranny input seal in this cold weather - DARN; only 27 years old and she's determined to try to leave her first blood on the garage floor. Oh well, always enjoy some good winter projects.

DG