Stop in for a cup of coffee

yup, thats how I did it this time. The first time I used only silicone on the china wall and a little rtv around the water ports. it worked fine, but there was a giant oil leak at the back of the manifold. I re did it two days ago with metal gaskets and the cork, but the manifold must be ever so slightly warped and it had the vacuum leak. This time I got the thickest fel-pros I could find with cork and allll black silicone. It is a stock 1971 340 TQ manifold
I do not put RTV around the water ports any longer. I use this..
https://www.autozone.com/sealants-g...seGzSavALLGbTh_19mEaAgYbEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds
6a1ae97d-3381-4211-b5d6-55c5604fe249._SR150,300_.jpg
I have found the silicon gets in the radiator and plugs the tubes..
AND the two pins should be removed, IMO. Keeps the manifold from seating, sometimes...