Stop in for a cup of coffee

So, went to my buddy's place and was helping him put his motor together. Everything was going well degreed the cam everything until. we tried to put the intake on. The thing will not set down on the engine, hangs up on the valve cover rails, you can see the lip for the gaskets. These are not miss matched parts, it's the original motor out of the car, but the machine work was done 15 years ago. (resto put on hold to raise his granddaughter). It's a 375 horse 396. all I can think of is the guy that did the head work cut way to muck from the head surface. (shop long gone) He is really down as of last night Looking at trying to find new heads as this is all correct and 67 only parts, I guess. Any ideas out there, this is the first Chevy I have been in to.View attachment 1716342585View attachment 1716342586View attachment 1716342588View attachment 1716342592View attachment 1716342593View attachment 1716342594View attachment 1716342595
Wow, they must have cut a ton off those heads to have it so far off. There is a formula for the relationship of how much is cut from the deck surface compared to how much needs to then be cut off of the intake side.