Trouble separating Eddie Meyer high rise

Help!!!! I pick up this original early flat head Eddie Meyer high rise a while back and I'm having trouble separating the top from the bottom. I don't want to break this thing, but it's gotta come apart!

Port runner gaskets were shot between the 2 pieces and needing replacing. I was able to remove these 2 gaskets just by pushing them through as they were so brittle, but I'm having trouble with the heat riser gasket...it's as hard as a rock and I'm sure that it, along with the 8 studs are preventing the 2 pieces from coming apart!

I'm thinkin' I can cut through the gasket with a thin blade, but does the center heat riser on the originals have a flange on the top piece and slip down inside the lower piece or vise versa? I don't want to cut into a flange if it exist!

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

 

Have you tried submerging the whole thing in a tub of very hot water? It may help expand things and break the seal. Maybe a cycle of hot then cold water a couple of times.

 

Prop it on it's side with the gasket vertical and shoot the seam with Kroil twice a day for a few days. Then go around in a circle wacking it away from the joint with a rubber hammer.

 

Yep Kroil and patience should do it.

 

The water idea is a really good one, I was able to separate some buick hubs once with ease from an overnight soak.

 

I like this water idea...if you have not oiled it yet. I would think penetrating oil or other oils will make the water idea fail.

I read on here a while back; someone freed stuck pistons in a block with just water. It seemed crazy, but the more I think about it, it sounds.... not so crazy.

 

Atf and acetone 50/50, shoot it down daily, or soak it.

 

yeah, I've already been applying a penetrating oil for a few days now, and even though I'm rather fond of petroleum products and stuff that will either harm me or the environment I guess I could give it a good cleanin' w/gas and try the water trick....but I'm thinkin' unless I whittle out that rock hard heat riser gasket, the rest won't budge.
Anyone know if the heat riser is flanged between the top and bottom pieces? I know the 8ba repops aren't, but what about an original early?

 

If you are concerned about oils you have already put on, just add some dish detergent to the water. The main point of the hot water is to cause expansion in the part to help split them apart.