Well, thanks to Blue Horse, I have no more leaks in my rebuilt rack and pinion steering rack. He was correct. I had to use the original washers since the new ones had a sloppy fit.
Here is the trick:
1. Lay a sheet of 320 grit sandpaper flat on your workbench.
2. Rub the washers on it till both sides are nice and shiny.
3. Lay the washers on the flat portion of a bench vice (to use as a heat sink).
4. With a propane torch, heat the washers till they turn rainbow colors. This anneals the copper so it will crush down upon torque and form a good seal. You only need to do the heating on one side of the washer.
5. After letting the washers cool,finish the job.
buena suerte,
el Raidman