If you're not seeing any leaks around the head it sounds like there's still a problem with the reed valves. That or the cylinder/ rings.

 

Thanks for your reply. I can’t see it being the rings. Doesn’t make any sense for two reasons. Not that old of a compressor and it ran and built pressure very quickly without issue until now. There was no obvious damage or any great amount of dirt to think it would be the reed valves but there aren’t many things that it could be. Maybe I’ll order new valves and see what that does. Sometimes we overlook the obvious. Just blows my mind that there were no issues before the head gasket blew and now with new gaskets….i have an issue

 

Not being smart but those valve assemblies can be directional. All holes in plates and gaskets have to correspond.

 

No issue taken. I removed cleaned then installed each one individually.