Any insightful tips or tricks for getting the front exhaust pipes on a Sonett III? I've followed the (minimal) instructions in the workshop manual, you know: "Insert the left (driver's side) pipe first with the right pipe rotated forward, then rotate the right pipe into position and insert" but that's not doing the trick.

I took off the fuel pump to make more room for the left pipe, and that got me almost far enough (right pipe still needed another 1/2" to reach the hole but by then the left pipe was knocking up against the engine mount).

I'd like to do it the right way rather than cutting the cross/balance pipe. So if anyone has a trick or technique that makes the original pipes go on easier I'm all ears!