Okay, with the help of my 300lb biker friend, some Kroil, and the action block, I got the barrel nut loose from the upper I ruined, and I got the barrel off as well. I got the float tube out, and thought..."hmmmm...gonna have to cut the barrel nut off"...no problem, the dremel is standing by. Then I get the barrel nut part of the float tube out, and then it hit me....IT'S GOT TO GO ON FROM THE FRONT!!!! Imagine my shock and horror as I realized I ruined the damn upper for nothing, and if I want this friggin' float tube on there, I'm STILL gonna have to get that damn muzzle brake off.
So, now I must admit to God and my ARFCOM brothers...I'M A TOTAL MORON! But, I GUARANTEE you I'll never make THIS mistake again.
Now, I will admit defeat...I'm gonna go ahead and put the barrel back the way it was on the new receiver. So, to make sure I don't screw anything else up, AFTER I put the upper in the action block, and the block into the vise, I'm going to:
a) grease the receiver threads with tetra grease
b)torque the barrel nut to 35 lbs, then crank it a tad more if needed to align for has tube
c)put gas tube in, make sure it's all the way into the upper
d)align and tighten gas block.
e)check headspace.
Does that cover everything, or am I forgetting something crucial?
edit...yes, I'm forgetting the friggin' delta ring, etc...you know, the one I cut off and mangled, along with the spring and the clip...yeah, THAT one hehehe. Ask me how I know