Sportfire Exhaust Manifold - Up or Down?

[Lake City Machines]

This is kind of a dumb question, but I am struggling to fine tune some issues with my 1983 Sportfire. Is there a top side to the exhaust manifold? Right now the center brace cut out is facing up. Is this correct as shown in the photo? I say dumb, because if I disconnected, flipped, and checked the alignment with exhaust pipe I might have the answer, but I don't want to mess with the gaskets. I am getting manifold to exhaust pipe blow back of some oil onto the outside surface of the crankcase, so I am trying to seal up the connection, the springs don't seem to do the job. Are there asbestos gaskets that can be used in the manifold to pipe connection? Thank you in advance for advise. Jim

[Packers29]

FIt your exhaust around the y pipe while warm using a ball pean hammer.