Jon, I suspect one would have likely had a few choice observations about the nail anti-slip option if they'd tried to pull that top seal.

Again, learn from my mistakes. It's a pretty sure thing I'm going to pull the just installed top rope seal in a couple days and replace it with a new one.
While chasing the rear main cap bolt hole threads earlier today I noticed a bit of the rope seal I'd driven in on both sides had squeezed out of the seal channel and was between the crank flange and oil passageway. Reason is I didn't tighten the front 3 sets of crank cap bolts tight enough before packing additional asbestos into the channel. I tightened them with a ratchet till I thought, they were snug. I guess they were but not snug enough.
Lesson, go ahead and torque the front 6 bolts to at least 60 ft.lbs. before packing the rope gasket. From what's been said this only applies if you're using a nos asbestos rope gasket.
I ordered the hopefully, last rear rope gasket I'll ever need. Well for a 216 anyway. Not sure what the 1954/59 261 might need.
RonR