Not an ignorant question

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Charlie D.

This isn't an ignorant question. You have to install the wax seal on the bowl first, make sure the china is clean were you place the seal. When reinstalling the bowl perhaps you would want to use new toilet flange bolts. Some newer bolts are made of plastic, easier to cut off or later removal These new bolts being longer that the existing sawed off ones, will help you align the bowl into place. I do remember toilet manufacturers from earlier days had extended the horn of the bowl to fit down inside the floor flange. But in them bygone days the plumbers used a 4" lead stub and placed a brass ring with the holes to accept the wood screws and the floor flange bolts. There was enough room in the 4" stub for this to happen.

Later on with copper & brass drainage fittings or ABS DWV and PVC DWV, the flange was 4"x3" and no room for this extended horn to fit properly. It would not allow the toilet to set flush on the finished floor. The maufacturers then made the horn fush with the underside of the toilet. This is my guess. I have noticed some toilet maufacturers the outlet on the toilet seems to be getting smaller. You could take a ordinary wax seal and place it on most toilets and they would fit with not remaining space between the inner ring of the seal and the horn. Some of the new toilets there is alot of free play.

My two cents

John Boy