Coolant petcock alignment?

[jimmyz80]

Quick question for the group. The water pipe and water petcock on my '31 was in pretty bad shape (rusted and peeling on the inside), so tonight I replaced it with this kit:

http://www.mikes-afordable.com/product/M8291BP.html

When I installed the petcock onto the pipe, it ended up not nice and straight like the previous one was (probably installed during a restoration in the 70s, before I was born). By straight, I mean the old one was clocked so the knob was facing straight out to the side of the car. On the new one, the knob ends up tucked under the water pipe, facing the rear of the car.

Is there a trick to getting these things to stay water tight yet aligned how you want them to be? Or do you just end up with where it gets tight?

I was thinking a washer could be used, but I believe the threads are tapered aren't they? Seems like a washer would cause the taper to not tighten up the threads as much, if they were tapered.

Thanks a bunch!