Headers won't slide into ports

[Eli69]

#3 looks right to me. but that's what you had in the first picture, i think. there wasn't an old gasket ring still in there was there? darn, i feel like i'm adding to the confusion....

[azr]

That was my first thought, that you didn't notice the old gasket ring in there and put another one on top of it. You had the shims correct from the beginning. Like you said there's really only one way they will work, and it aint rocket science.

[posplayr]

That was my first thought, that you didn't notice the old gasket ring in there and put another one on top of it. You had the shims correct from the beginning. Like you said there's really only one way they will work, and it aint rocket science.

I think we should take a pole?

[Weapon]

I think the pipe center left is correct. but there is a crush gasket in place but no gasket on the far right pipe which is the only other one you can see. all four need those crush gaskets. as azr said it really isn't rocket science.

[chef1366]

The collars are on correctly.
The dead blow and a 2x4 on the bottom/center will work.
It does work better with two people.
I grease the collars if I do it alone.

[dpep]

That was my first thought, that you didn't notice the old gasket ring in there and put another one on top of it. You had the shims correct from the beginning. Like you said there's really only one way they will work, and it aint rocket science.

Your first thought was correct. What I assumed was a lip at the bottom of the port for the gasket to mate against was in fact the old gasket so melted/crushed into the engine and covered with soot that it appeared to be one continuous piece of metal, nary a seam visible anywhere. Take a look at #1 port in the picture in post 12 above. There is actually a gasket in there.

I'm not sure if that is my only problem. It still doesn't look like the outside flange on the middle pipes are going to flush up with the engine, but maybe they don't have to. If I put the cullet halves back where I (and Haynes) originally had them that should give me just about the same distance, flange to end of pipe, on the middle pipes as the outside ones.Close anyway,

The cullet halves were evidently a red herring.
...

[OldVet66]

I'm glad you are getting it sorted out. I guess I should have mentioned an angled pick was also necessary for gasket removal. I got so used to gaskets stuck in the head having to use two for my old Vance and Hines 4-1 that it didn't even cross my mind that it was very common for the gaskets to crush in and hide in plain sight after they are carbon coated. Hope the rest of the operation is a lot smoother for you.

[azr]

Sounds like you've got it sorted Don, likely they were never flush to begin with. You'll know once you start it up anyways.....

[Katarat]

So the pipe in Cyl #3 has the collets in the correct position then right ? I never had stock pipes before and everything fell all over when I removed them