The answer is yes, well more specifically they can be installed upside down. And I guess they do seal for a while, but let loose earlier than they should.

I pulled the driver's side manifold today. Found that the gasket for #5 was in upside down, which allowed the metal ring of the gasket to burn through. It sat right at the very edge of the manifold. #'s 6,7, and 8 all looked ok.

While I had the manifold in my lap I played with positioning of the gaskets and found that the first went one direction and the others went 180* opposite. Just had to keep things in order as the gaskets and manifold went back in.

All better now, no ticking, no exhaust leak and no CO in the cabin.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.