Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? - The 1947 - Present Chevrolet & GMC Truck Message Board Network

Kidd-7 · 01-03-2011, 10:05 AM

I've heard no's before, so just wondering Yes No Why????

hayhauler71 · 01-03-2011, 11:11 AM

Yes so they don't leak

**FL71C10** · 01-03-2011, 11:19 AM

Any suggestions on what kind? Do special bolts make a difference? The summitt website has a bunch of options that get pretty expensive.

**specialtyretail** · 01-03-2011, 11:31 AM

Buy quality gaskets, not the $9.99 cheapo's. New bolts are a plus. Run them a while, snug them, run tham a while, snug them again. Works for us.

**special-K** · 01-03-2011, 11:47 AM

The main thing is to,like said above,keep up on them. Keep 'em tight. Go snug them whenever you think about it. I've had trucks that I could always tell they were getting loose. I got away with tightening for years. Each time I was afraid I was too late,but never was. I suggest spending enough to get the copper crush gaskets they offer these days.

jamesi20 · 01-03-2011, 12:59 PM

I've had good luck with these http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SU...r|1970|CID|350

aggieguy713 · 01-03-2011, 04:58 PM

Either copper or aluminum...seal the best. Im partial to the aluminum just my .02

ldgn63 · 01-03-2011, 05:39 PM

I've always used stock manifold gaskets with headers. Never had one leak. Somebody tell me what I'm doin wrong...
Posted via Mobile Device

BADPURPLE70CHEVY · 01-03-2011, 05:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ldgn63

I've always used stock manifold gaskets with headers. Never had one leak. Somebody tell me what I'm doin wrong...
Posted via Mobile Device

Stock manifold gaskets work great.....

vectorit · 01-03-2011, 06:55 PM

Back in the day when I had the patience for headers...

I had good luck for the most part using the plain "Mr Gasket" gaskets, but what I did was soak them in water for a while. Then install them with the bolts tightened up, run the engine for a while in the driveway then re tighten them again.

Doing it this way on a shoe string budget worked well for me.

1968SWBBigBlock · 01-03-2011, 07:19 PM

http://www.totallystainless.com/2010.../catalog35.pdf
Go to page 5 and locj at the Total Loc header bolts - hands down the best header bolts made ANYPLACE!
No screwing around with a bunch of retighting, alan head bolts or tiny ring locks.
These come as 1 piece with captured special lock washers really slick - and they work.
For gaskets I have found percys sealforgood Aluminum work very well

Mike C · 01-03-2011, 09:01 PM

Cast iron manifolds are installed without gaskets. At least when new the heads and manifolds are machined flat.

Headers need gaskets. Get the gaskets that have the wire mesh in the middle. I like the FelPro better than Mr.G, but the Mr.G ones work OK. You can use stock ones if you have 1 1/2" headers and MAYBE 1 5/8". 1 3/4" require small race port gaskets if you want to take full advantage of the big tube. Not much use on a stock head, though.

But get some bolts that have lockwashers. I ran the same set of gaskets for 10 years on my Jimmy. The gaskets lasted longer than the flanges.

01-03-2011, 10:05 AM	#1
Kidd-7 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: RTP, NC Posts: 518	Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? I've heard no's before, so just wondering Yes No Why????

01-03-2011, 11:11 AM	#2
hayhauler71 Registered User Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: St. Paul MN. Posts: 1,996	Re: Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? Yes so they don't leak __________________ Fuzzy

01-03-2011, 11:19 AM	#3
FL71C10 Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: Orlando, Florida Posts: 2,509	Re: Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? Any suggestions on what kind? Do special bolts make a difference? The summitt website has a bunch of options that get pretty expensive. __________________ 71 Chevy C10 Shortbed Stepside. LT1 with 4l60E. Just got back from painter, in assembly now.

01-03-2011, 11:31 AM	#4
specialtyretail So,, what else you got??? Join Date: May 2010 Location: Jackson, Mo Posts: 18,634	Re: Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? Buy quality gaskets, not the $9.99 cheapo's. New bolts are a plus. Run them a while, snug them, run tham a while, snug them again. Works for us.

01-03-2011, 11:47 AM	#5
special-K Special Order Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Mt Airy, MD Posts: 85,851	Re: Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? The main thing is to,like said above,keep up on them. Keep 'em tight. Go snug them whenever you think about it. I've had trucks that I could always tell they were getting loose. I got away with tightening for years. Each time I was afraid I was too late,but never was. I suggest spending enough to get the copper crush gaskets they offer these days. __________________ "BUILDING A BETTER WAY TO SERVE THE USA"......67/72......"The New Breed" GMC '67 C1500 Wideside Super Custom SWB: 327/M22/3.42 posi.........."The '67" (project) GMC '72 K2500 Wideside Sierra Custom Camper: 350/TH350/4.10 Power-Lok..."The '72" (rolling) Tim "Don't call me a redneck. I'm a rough cut country gentleman" R.I.P. ~ East Side Low Life ~ El Jay ~ 72BLUZ ~ Fasteddie69 ~ Ron586 ~ 67ChevyRedneck ~ Grumpy Old Man ~

01-03-2011, 12:59 PM	#6
jamesi20 Senior Member Join Date: May 2002 Location: NORTHEAST OHIO Posts: 493	Re: Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? I've had good luck with these http://www.summitracing.com/parts/SU...r\|1970\|CID\|350

01-03-2011, 04:58 PM	#7
aggieguy713 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: ringgold, ga Posts: 164	Re: Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? Either copper or aluminum...seal the best. Im partial to the aluminum just my .02 __________________ 70 Chevy C10, LT1, T5, "Blue Beast"

01-03-2011, 05:39 PM	#8
ldgn63 Registered User Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: DFW Posts: 81	Re: Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? I've always used stock manifold gaskets with headers. Never had one leak. Somebody tell me what I'm doin wrong... Posted via Mobile Device

01-03-2011, 06:55 PM	#10
vectorit What? Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Southern California Posts: 7,617	Re: Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? Back in the day when I had the patience for headers... I had good luck for the most part using the plain "Mr Gasket" gaskets, but what I did was soak them in water for a while. Then install them with the bolts tightened up, run the engine for a while in the driveway then re tighten them again. Doing it this way on a shoe string budget worked well for me. __________________ Chris 1968 K20 Suburban 1972 K10 LWB PU

01-03-2011, 07:19 PM	#11
1968SWBBigBlock Active Member Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 1,643	Re: Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? http://www.totallystainless.com/2010.../catalog35.pdf Go to page 5 and locj at the Total Loc header bolts - hands down the best header bolts made ANYPLACE! No screwing around with a bunch of retighting, alan head bolts or tiny ring locks. These come as 1 piece with captured special lock washers really slick - and they work. For gaskets I have found percys sealforgood Aluminum work very well __________________ 1968 SWB 454 + .040, 490HP x 540 FT pounds of Torque 10-1 Kb Forged pistons, recon rods w/ ARP wave loc bolts 781 heads Ported with 2.19/1.88 SSTvalves Lunati 60204 cam, Micro Trol lifters, Ported Edelbrock Performer Rpm manifold armor coated, Pertronix Triple Strike Ignition Holley 770 Street Avenger carb,Headers armor coated Built by Watson Ruppel Performance in Sarahsville Ohio. Hardshift Tranny Built Turbo 350,TSI 10" 3000 stall 12 Bolt Eaton Posi 4.10 Richmond Gears moser axles 18.5" x 31" Hoosier Pro Street Radials ET Classic 5 Wheels - polished Power Steering, Power Brakes,Disc Brakes,Tach & Gauge Dash, Tilt,Factory Air (gone) Custom Paint & Body Work Special thanks to my wife, my son and my money tree

01-03-2011, 09:01 PM	#12
Mike C Registered User Join Date: Dec 1999 Location: Austin, TX, USA Posts: 7,727	Re: Header Gaskets Yea/ Nay???? Cast iron manifolds are installed without gaskets. At least when new the heads and manifolds are machined flat. Headers need gaskets. Get the gaskets that have the wire mesh in the middle. I like the FelPro better than Mr.G, but the Mr.G ones work OK. You can use stock ones if you have 1 1/2" headers and MAYBE 1 5/8". 1 3/4" require small race port gaskets if you want to take full advantage of the big tube. Not much use on a stock head, though. But get some bolts that have lockwashers. I ran the same set of gaskets for 10 years on my Jimmy. The gaskets lasted longer than the flanges. __________________ 44 Willys MB 52 M38A1 64 Corvette Coupe 68 Camaro 'vert LT1 & TH700 69 Z/28 355 12.6's @110 69 Chevy Short Step 4 1/2"/7" drop 72 Jimmy 4WD 4spd 4" & 35's 02 GMC 2500HD 4x4 Duramax

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