Just an update on the installation of the kits on the 617:

If you are finding any difficulty holding the copper plate on the exhaust pipe and tapping the plate with a ball peen hammer, one of the forum members has come up with this solution:

Remove the metal corrugated tube from the bottom of the EGR valve, after you have removed the EGR valve from the engine. The bottom of the EGR valve looks identical to the exhaust pipe. So, put the EGR valve in a vise, and tap the copper plate onto the bottom face of the EGR valve.

Return to the vehicle with the copper plate. Put some sealant onto the back of the copper plate, place it onto the exhaust pipe on the manifold, and install the clamp.

This approach is definitely easier on the back