Though already covered..............There is a rubber-over-metal gasket out there. I havent tried one yet but it looks to be a nice piece.
I also use paper and gasket maker to fill any slight gouges and accomodate any flexing that occurs (the potmetal cover flexes when you really nail it if you got some torque).

If doing it that way...I would use RTV on the cover and stick the gasket to it...them just put it on the dif...
No such thing as a dumb ??? if you never done something like this before than why not ask....everyone wants to be sure there doing it right the first time...![]()