I'm taking care of an exhaust leak in my '86 22RE Pickup and when I pulled the manifold the two donut gaskets were completely crumbled. I bought some new ones but when I put them in the recess spots on the manifold they stick up above the lip surface of the manifold by just a tad. It's not a lot, but they definitely don't sit flush. Should the gaskets be like this or should they sit completely flush in the holes? I'm just worried that I'll tighten everything up and then get a leak and have the hassle of taking all the studs out again.

Thanks

 

They are designed to crush a little when the flanges are tightened together. This is so it will seal.