Lol, sounds like I'm getting a name like Larry the Cable Guy or something! Regarding the air gap I always set it with the reducer in. Maybe I'm a little strange but what is the point of setting an air gap to a specific measurement and then blocking part of that off by installing the insert? Also when you are tuning on some random guy at the tracks engine are you really going to start pulling out inserts etc? Again though please remember that this setting is not something that needs to be exact, so just look down the throat of the carb and adjust it. Should take about 4-5 seconds to ball park and then be done with it.