Header fitment rant, Doug's

I'm reinstalling a set of Doug's headers in my D/Dart. Just got the driver side in. I shimmed up the driver side 0.250" on one side of the mount and 0.188" on the other. Did this to get enough thread engagement. I have the passenger side shimmed up 0.250". The headers and Schumacher motor mounts are 1999 vintage. My complaint was the tight fit of the header bolts on #5 and #7 ports.

I'm going to try to force the steering column down where it goes through the firewall to get a little more clearance at the coupling. Hoping there is enough play in the slots.

Plan on working on the passenger side tomorrow. That is, as long as it's not too hot in the garage.
I'm pretty sure there's a couple versions of those headers. The earlier version has more sections. @CPDave knows.