[bigmac73]

Originally Posted by 68c10airstream

I feel compelled to respond. As a ase mechanic of over 30 years i know for a fact is this; first off i will take motor home applications as an example. We would fix a couple a year to never return except the owner thanking us as this lasts. If manifold is warped get it machined flat. DO NOT USE GASKETS, use rtv silicone. what we learned is this; gaskets do work provided that you constantly retighten them because it crushes dowm. Silicone sealer fills in the gaps without needing retorquing. Next application; headers, as long as they are good quality with a thick mounting flange, use them with silicone (oxygen sensor safe silicone for efi apps). Now torch off the 3 bolt collector and tig weld on v band clamps and don't look back. I had the same issues with the 3 bolt collector as the manifold gasket issues. The only thing that lasted on the 3 bolt collector was silicone (provided flanged were not warped too badly yet) and lock nuts and additional lock nuts and this was good for my last year of running. A buddy told me of v band clamps and they make a lot of sense as the turbo crowd uses them

the new ball and socket flange is the way to go