Speedmaster MidRise Air Intake Manifold

I always recommend test fitting intakes without the end seals before bolting it down for final assembly. I never personally use those Gaskets but I will take feeler gauges and see how high I have to Dam it with black silicone. With an intake like these I then check my bolt alignment and snake a camera down the runners to check port alignment.
Sometimes i use end gaskets sometimes not. Ive seen issues both ways. I try to avoid any cork gasket. Never had a problem with rubber end seals. Not sure if ive seen them for a small block chrysler. I work on all makes and models. Have seen with rtv if not careful placing intake. If it doesnt go on perfect and even the rtv gets squished out leaving a big void. Have also seen many many times an engine that was destroyed by rtv. Too much used and sucked up into oil or water pump plugging up passages. Im a certified master tech. Have installed many gaskets on many kinds of vehicles for many years. Seldom have any problems. This intake is not what i would call ideal for the application. But the factory 2 barrel isnt either. Thats junk. I dont want it to fall on its face every time i push the accelerator. Nowadays everyone wants a fortune for everything. I would have preferred a regular dual plane intake for my 76 W300 with 15000 miles . i would have preferred it had a 440 instead of a 360 also. But for now a decent carb will do. Its got dana 70 rear and dana 60 front and 4spd with a 20000 lb pto winch and an extra pto . in future maybe it'll get a big block? Was mainly wondering if anyone has had problems with this intake other than port alighment. This one seems right on the money for that. The rear of it could use some grinding. And likely will. I was trying to put this together as quickly as i could due to the weather and having other things to do. So tried cutting corners. Hence leaving one valve cover installed. Also didnt want to mess with removing the mammoth 300A alternator which is where the AC pump usually is. Thats why i tried the cork end gaskets. Getting the intake on square and even in one motion would be a feat. Looked way off with vc on. After removing it looks much better. Found my new bolts. So ill pull it back off. Apply some fresh rtv in the corners. Then torque it down. Probaby take a die grinder in the distributor area too. If that doesnt work ill just have to get everything out of the way and see whats up.