why are these related?
 

There is something wrong with both pictures and there is a relation.

Do you know what it is? (I'll wager Brent and Tom know)

Re: why are these related?
 

washer on backwards and gasket? Just no good!

Re: why are these related?
 

Bingo!
the thick washer is on backwards. (Crown should be against nut / concave towards engine.
As a result two things happened. The washer could not "rock" to place even pressures on the manifolds and, the nut backed off allowing burn through on the gasket.

Re: why are these related?
 

Re: why are these related?
 

Manifolds were undamaged. (But fithy)

Re: why are these related?
 

Re: why are these related?
 

I'm no expert. I'm just trying to learn enough to graduate from this school of hard knocks.:)

Re: why are these related?
 

Re: why are these related?
 

Good post and replies. I am learning from all the comments, that it is very important to pay attention to small details. Thanks for all the information.

Re: why are these related?
 

Just the sort of thing you might learn from experience if you could figure out what went wrong. Excellent post for those of us ignorant of this pitfall. Thanks.

Re: why are these related?
 

I went to the School of Hard Knocks also........school colors are black and blue. :rolleyes:

Re: why are these related?
 

darn you easterners get up early, by the time us left coasters get up and on here you guys have already answered all the posted questions, I noticed the gasket being bad right away, it took a while before I noticed the washer was on backwards, you guys are good