Manifold gasket questions

[Rinker85]

I'm replacing my manifold gasket. There is a lot of carbon toward the front of the engine. The last time I replaced it was in 2010. At that time I had to do a lot of repair to the manifold. It looks like my repairs held up. I still plan to clean it up and repaint.

So my questions are: 1. How do I torque it down if I can only get a box wrench on the nut?
2. I want to do the acetone test once I clean it up. Do I just pour the acetone in the end water inlet?
3. Now that the manifold is off is there anything you would recommend I do to the engine at this time
now that more of it is exposed.
4. In the pictures you can see where it leaked toward the front of the engine. Should I put high temp
Permatex in this area? The last time I replaced it , I did not use any silicone .

 

[Scott Danforth]

from the soot on the manifold, you had a gasket leak for some time

use a ground straight edge and feeler gauges to check both the head and manifold for flatness.

from the rust and scale, I would be suggesting a new manifold. does the elbow gasket surface even clean up?

 

[Rinker85]

from the soot on the manifold, you had a gasket leak for some time

use a ground straight edge and feeler gauges to check both the head and manifold for flatness.

from the rust and scale, I would be suggesting a new manifold. does the elbow gasket surface even clean up?

I'm hoping it cleans up. I haven't started to clean them up yet. That will be in the next few days. But I will check for flatness as you suggested.

Thank you

 

[Rinker85]

Update: The acetone test on the manifold passed. However after cleaning up the gasket material on the ports I can see the JB weld repairs I did in 2010 are not looking good. After putting a straight edge across all the ports, they are not flat. I attached two close up pictures. Is this something that a machine shop can fix or is it too far gone? I can get a new one for $331.00

 

[Silverbullet555]

As far as torquing it down, can you get a crowd foot wrench on it? I've used to torque down things I couldn't get a socket on.