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piecesparts · 07-09-2005, 12:03 AM

Turn the bolt until it breaks, then buy new bolts.

"SERIOUSLY" There is a trick to putting headers on that I found in the Chevy High Performance magazine a few years ago. This thing has worked for me for quite some time and I have four vehicles with headers. I put headers on with a good quality gasket, I prefer Fel-Pro gaskets, I use a Copper Coat gasket sealer to glaze the gasket and then install after it sets up. I take the header bolts and wrap them with "Teflon Tape", just like you would a fitting for a fuel system. I then install the header bolts and tighten to a good SNUG tightness with a standard wratchet or wrench. I then start the motor and warm it up, then I tighten the header bolts once more as it is cooling down to approximately 30 to 40 foot pounds. I have never torqued the bolts and I have not had any loosing issues since I started using the teflon tape. I usually check my bolts once each spring and have not had any leakage issues in quite some time. I have headers on a 1984 GMC pickup with a 383 stroker motor, a 1986 Chevy pickup with a 350 motor, a 1991 Chevy pickup with a 5.7 motor and my 1995 Chevy Impala SS with a LT-1 motor. All have had great luck.

07-09-2005, 12:03 AM	#2
piecesparts Parts and more parts Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Lebo, Kansas (middle of nowhere Posts: 6,821	Turn the bolt until it breaks, then buy new bolts. "SERIOUSLY" There is a trick to putting headers on that I found in the Chevy High Performance magazine a few years ago. This thing has worked for me for quite some time and I have four vehicles with headers. I put headers on with a good quality gasket, I prefer Fel-Pro gaskets, I use a Copper Coat gasket sealer to glaze the gasket and then install after it sets up. I take the header bolts and wrap them with "Teflon Tape", just like you would a fitting for a fuel system. I then install the header bolts and tighten to a good SNUG tightness with a standard wratchet or wrench. I then start the motor and warm it up, then I tighten the header bolts once more as it is cooling down to approximately 30 to 40 foot pounds. I have never torqued the bolts and I have not had any loosing issues since I started using the teflon tape. I usually check my bolts once each spring and have not had any leakage issues in quite some time. I have headers on a 1984 GMC pickup with a 383 stroker motor, a 1986 Chevy pickup with a 350 motor, a 1991 Chevy pickup with a 5.7 motor and my 1995 Chevy Impala SS with a LT-1 motor. All have had great luck. Last edited by piecesparts; 07-09-2005 at 12:04 AM.