Twice removing and replacing the stock 150 pound iron intake manifold on a '73 Ford Galaxie 500 without a hoist after I'd sold the original Edelbrock intake and Holley carb on fleaBay. You see, Ford decreed that while a huge aluminum turkey pan was fine for the intake holes and such on the heads, you had to stick on a cork oil gasket on the front and rear edges of the block between the heads with gasket glue, with special attention and extra sealant to the gasket where it went under the aluminum turkey pan on the heads while following the curved end of the block. The first time I just sort of wrangled it up and then somehow managed to get it onto the engine while standing on the ground and leaning over the fender. I finished the rest of the job, torqued the heads and all the rest, only to discover an oil leak from the rear. The next day, I actually crawled up onto the engine, and holding the intake by the carb hole and the the egr valve, I dropped it gently straight down without dislodging the damned oil gaskets from the second intake manifold kit I'd had to buy and managed to get it to seat properly. Much cussing, smashed fingers and blood with the added bonus of a sore back from imitating an engine hoist.
I learned a long time ago that you'll never, ever do anything on an engine more complicated than an oil change without paying a blood sacrifice. There's always at least a bleeding scratch after the job's done.
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