errr.. no.. You don't have a choice with pipe threads.. the fitting has gotta go in until it's tight or it will leak. (and this is exactly the wrong place to have any kind of a vacuum leak.) The trick is to tap it just enough.. but not too much. If someone doesn't understand what i just said they don't understand enough to do it correctly.
If there's no access into the manifold so anything hanging down can be ground off with a Dremel or similar,, then some of the brass fitting will be hanging into the airstrream.
The 1/8 inch pipe threaded nipple fitting is not the best thing to use in this situation. It needs a standard straight thread stud with a shoulder and a O-ring.