More pix

Took out gasket and front end seal, intake went into position with front two 7/16 bolts

Installed inserts in 11 of 12 holes. Having touble getting insert to go into hole with real helicoil, even though bolt of same thread goes in like butter. Spent time buying screwdriver, won't fit inserts, filing it down, cracking the high crabon inserts, going to buy more ez outs because I can't find mine, etc.

Here is new gasket on smaller holes (5/16 vs 3/8 oem). Not looking good. Also note where I cleaned off grease, head does not appear to be perfectly square on block (it is on the index pins). Will try sitting intake on there, pushing down on gasket not going very far.

It looks to fit "ok" and could maybe be made to work. Why would you replace a jacked up VR gasket with another potentially jacked up VR gasket????

All I could get quickly, and that had to come from Augusta overnight (Advance, $43).

So new gasket won't line up with 5/16ths bolts. Took it out, put one I was having problems with back in, the holes already drilled out on it. All bolts in, torqued to 30 nm, which is as far as I dare with 5/16. RTV'd around 4 water ports lightly. My one 7/16 helicoil bolt lined up and stayed that size.

Hoping to get back together and running tomorrow.