Need Some Help with Header Gasket Problem

[JHART]

Ok so i am driving home from work last night and i here a little pop in my exhaust. Like no back pressure .... as if it wants to backfire but doesnt. So i get home ok and i open up the hood to find that i have blown out my driver side header gasket. I kinda knew this was coming, just not so soon. I put some cheap Felpro gaskets in there hoping they would get me around till i got the truck in for the new exhaust but i guess i was wrong.

So my question for you exhaust buffs is what gaskets are you guys using? I need some that are a bit thicker then norm and WILL NOT leak .... i cant tell you how bad i hate exhaust leaks.

If you guys could give me some links to them or maybe some pics i would really apreciate it. The sooner the better cuz i am now without a car seeing how the truck is my daily driver.

Thank you in advance!

-Hart

[cooters]

i use felpro, the secret is a header with a thick flange and do not overtighten the bolts and warp the header. Buy bolts with locks in them because when they loosen up a little the gasket will blow out. Retighten the bolts after the first half hour of use and check once in a while

[tiggerstoy]

still use felpro, but you can try and use copper ones, just make sure to re tighten after a half hour of running them, they work great, and you can reuse them if you need to.

[cbbs02]

sbc have a problem with header bolts backing out i agree with useing the locking type bolts but i also put a small dot of red locktight on the ends just for that bit extra

[Mudder]

I cut the header flanges on each side of the center tubes and I use regular manifold gaskets. The manifold gaskets have the little ears on them and you can start all your bolts and just drop them onto the bolts. I am using stainless bolts so you can't really tighten them a lot. I have not had one come loose yet. Cutting the flanges allows the bolts to be started easier also. It works very well and costs very little. The gaskets run about 6 or 7 bucks.

[ThatOneBlue67]

I make an attempt to tighten every header bolt atleast once every two weeks. I've had those bolts come so far out of the head that I could pull the header away from the head partly.

[Mudder]

Cut the flanges............ They are probably warped from when they welded the tubes to the flanges. It works and you can forget about them!!!!!!!!!!

[Rick Mills]

Originally Posted by Mudder

Cut the flanges............ They are probably warped from when they welded the tubes to the flanges. It works and you can forget about them!!!!!!!!!!

Hmmmm, I never heard about cutting the flanges... but I'm going to try it on my big block headers. Got the same problem of blowing out gaskets every few thousand miles.

[Mudder]

The guy that told me abut doing this about 16 years ago has had all big blocks and he's never had a problem with bolts backing out. I asked him about it not long ago. He's a drag racer.

[JHART]

So should i bother getting better gaskets or should i just go to Kragen and pick up some cheap ones? I'm going to cut the flanges also thats an awesome idea!

[prostreet1967]

i use mr gasket copper and put loctite on the bolts never had a problem

[krazy_texan]

i doubled them up on mine and it worked fine

[Mudder]

I use the manifold gaskets. Three to each side. Never had one to leak.

[JHART]

three? Man i hope i dont need that many.

You guys know where i can find some new bolts ... the locking type?

I should probably heat these old bolts up before i try pulling them out right?

[Mudder]

There are 3 indiviual gaskets for one side. One each for each single tube and a gasket for the center two. If you cut your flanges chances are you wont need the locking bolts.

[JHART]

Sweet thx for the help Mudder. I plan on taking them off this weekend and make the cuts/gasket replacement.