Help with installing water tube

I am trying to assemble a 22RE engine in my 1985 Celica. I cannot get the water tube (metal tube goes from bottom of intake manifold down, around back of engine, and connects with a rubber hose to another metal water tube that goes through the firewall) to fit. Two 10mm (head) bolts fasten though a flange to the intake manifold and a 12 mm (head) bolt fastens the tube to the back of the engine.
Is there a trick to getting it in? Does it go in before putting on the manifold or do I attach it to the manifold then try to fit?
Thanks for any help or advice.

Is the route blocked? or aren't you able to get both ends to bolt on simultaneously? Why not? Is the tube the wrong geometry? or is it too short/long? Is this the engine that came out of the vehicle or a modification in some way?

Original engine; no modifications. The tube came out of this one. I just can't seem to find how to put it back in. Does it have to be on the manifold first?

The tube has not been bent or modified; I just took it out. I can't get the two fastening points to match.

How close can you get it without bending the tubing? Can you post photos?

How close can you get it without bending the tubing? Can you post photos?
Not close enough to start the bolts, maybe 1/2 inch. The tube is about 5/8 inch diameter with a flange on one end where the two 10mm bolts attach it to the intake manifold. The tube goes straight down for a couple of inches the turns 90 degrees to run toward the rear of the engine. It bends out to go around the corner of the rear of the block (where the block projects out about an inch), then bends 90 degrees again, this time to go along the back of the engine (this is where the attachment is to bolt it to the head...the tube is actually along the block, but the attachment hole, welded to the tube, extends up to reach a bolt in the head).
If I get it lined up with the bolt on the rear of the engine, it won't go all the way to line up with the attaching point on the manifold. I can't get it close enough to start the 10mm bolts to even try it that way. I guess I might have to pull the damned manifold back off and fasten it there first. I'm close to cutting the danged thing off and using a rubber hose, except I don't know how hot it would get where it has to go.

How about if you bolt it to the manifold first, half threaded (without pulling the manifold off) or maybe one bolt, then pull it around the back of the block? either from the side or the top

That's what I wanted to do, but I can't get the flange to line up close enough at the manifold (it's turned about 45 degrees from front to back...welded). The biggest problem is that you can't see either of the fastening points. The one on the rear goes in with just enough clearance for a ratchet. The two 10mm on the manifold go in from the bottom and are close to the head and directly above the oil filter and the frame crossmember where the motor mounts are located. I had to take out the oil filter to even reach them.

Where are you? I'll stop by :)

Ohio? Shit

Where are you? I'll stop by :)
I'm in Marietta, Ohio, but I wouldn't want you to go out of your way. I just thought there might be some trick to getting this thing in that I didn't know about. (Like that hidden 6mm socket head bolt that fastens the intake manifold to the head). Thanks.

Where are you? I'll stop by :)

Ohio? Shit
Thanks for the help, Brian.

You're welcome. I guess there was little chance I could figure something out when you couldn't and you could see it.

Where are you? I'll stop by :)

Ohio? Shit

wow, you actually made it to his house? Wish I lived in Ohio... :p

I finally got it in. I had to remove the intake manifold, then a stud for the manifold. I then had to remove the starter for access to the fuel filter. I removed the fuel filter and then the bracket that attaches the filter to the block. The tube is routed behind the bracket. The only other way was to take off the head, and I was not going to do that.
I busted almost every knuckle, but the damned thing is in. Whoever came up with that design ought to let me design the battery compartment for their TV remote: "Remove back of refrigerator with metric allen wrenches (without moving the refrigerator); batteries are located under the compressor and behind the coils; inaccessable from the front. Assembly is the reverse of this procedure."

Brian R. Thanks for taking the time to help.

You're welcome. It was an interesting puzzle.