Intake Install Problems

[engrdean]

I finally got around to putting my intake back on my '70 sb. Ordered a new set of ARP bolts, got everything cleaned up and painted, and read the posts about how to do it right with the gasket sealer on the ends. I started torquing things down in the correct sequence and ran into several bolts that I could not get to catch any threads and start unless I removed the washer. I verified that the bolts are the same as the ones I took off, although I am not sure that there were washers before. I also managed to strip out the threads in the head on one of the bolts. I used a torque wrench and did not over torque any bolts.

I plan to use a heli coil to fix the stripped threads, but I am confused why the bolts seem to be to short. If they are just barely catching when I torque them down, then I am worried I am going to strip more threads out when I put it back togather again. I could get longer bolts, but since I just spent $30 on these and they are the same size as the ones I took off, I would like to make them work if I can. Anybody have any ideas what I am doing wrong here?