98runners

Okay so after I got head gasket done and made sure it starts and runs. I'm having the hardest time bolting the y-pipe back onto the exhaust manifolds. It is just the passenger side. I've got it the tightest I cant w/o stripping it but there is still a 1/8 inch gap... is there a special way to get it in?

Also I've I tried to unbolt the y-pipe from the rest of the exhaust and one of the nuts looks like its welded on with rest. lol I'll try and get a picture of it. Do any of you guys know how to tackle this?

trx125

I have found the easiest way to get the y pipe back on is to unbolt the passenger side manifold, get the y pipe bolted up semi tight on the driver side. Put the pass manifold on the y pipe and sung it up then reattach the manifold to the block. Tighten down the manifold to spec and then finish tightening the rest of the bolts on the y pipe to spec.

98runners

alright so last weekend I was going to take care of this but before I bolted everything back up completely, I decided to go around the block to see if it is overheating. The main reason why I did the headgasket(it was smoking up the block as well). okay so now when I idle the car for like 10-15 mins it stays fine but after I were to close the hood and drive it around the block it start to overheat. (it gets to about 3/4 before I shut it off.) here is the thing though, the lower radiator hose is cold while the upper is hot. I get hot air out of the vents just fine as well.
Could this be caused by the exhaust leak heating up the engine bay? if this was the case would the coolant eventually heat up enough to at least warm the lower hose? the fan is still working. I just wanted to see if this could plausible before I start the battle with the exhaust again.