 Ported the exhaust
OK, another little tweak accomplished.
I pulled off the exhaust, and the gasket, with a little finger-nail nudge came right off. How nice to have carbon buildup showing me exactly where to cut!
So with a round sanding block dremel tool, I modified the gasket by getting rid of the carbon. (First I used a Red Sharpie to outline it, just in case it came off in a clean chunk - which is did, so I was smart!)
After the gasket was modified to match the opening of the motor, I put it on the exhaust manifold, and again, using a red sharpie, colored in where metal was showing.
Then I stuffed paper towel into the exhaust to prevent metal flakes from going down the pipe.
Then I changed bits to the metal bit and started shaving away. I first cut outwards and left a 45 degree angle out to the edges of my red ink. Then I made sure everything was smooth and rounded and made a good transition to the pipe.
I used my shop vac to suck up all the metal shavings, and used needle-nose pliers to pull out the paper towel with the vacuum on it. Then I just tapped the manifold and kept vacumming directly to make sure it's as clean as possible.
I coated the gasket both sides with Red RTV, and then a generous amount of blue loctite on the studs (stock, and they seem just fine for now - but on the short list for replacement), and reassembled.
Of course it's freakin' raining with thunder and lightning, so I won't be able to test today....I guess it gives the RTV longer to set up.
So tomorrow I'll give you the results...but I'm sure it will only help! I am just going to get the Dax intake when it's available for the other side, but I do have a rubber o-ring for now to insure a good seal. (I hope). | 
