Those pesky exhaust leaks...

[Pl4yboy]

Recently the little paper collector gaskets in my truck started to crap out on me. I pulled them out and put in the aluminum ones. The aluminum ones worked great for about a week but now appearantly something is loose again because it sounds worse than ever. What has everyone else done to keep from having leaks?

[chris71]

those paper gaskets arent worth spit. i dont even use them. i like to use a metal cored gasket like what felpro has. they seem to hold up pretty well. i use lock washers on my collector gaskets and unfortuneatly i tighten up my header bolts every few months. there are a few companies out there that sell lock-style header bolts. some of em are $50 a set. but i think it may be money well spent. because i find that with some of my cars if the bolts lossen up a little thats when the gasket will start to go, even if it is a good gasket to begin with. nothing is more annoying to me than an exhaust leak. i have a set of those solid aluminum collector gaskets, i may try to throw those on there myself. i have heard that the copper rtv is good against exhaust leaks, never tried it, sounds like a bandaid to me but, maybe it will help somepeople out. oh yeah try to straighten out the flanges on the collectors if they are bent, that may help a little too if it is really bad. good luck

[wedgemon]

Header Buddy's

I used them and they work great. Didn't want a welded system.





No, I don't have any financial interest in these. They just work!!

- Dave

[Pl4yboy]

Yeah, I'll definitely have to straighted out the flanges. They're all bent to hell.

[custom72c20]

Have you tried copper collector gaskets? They are more flexible than the aluminum and seal better. They worked for me.

[Slammed70]

I have always had the best luck with the cheap, ****ty paper gaskets they send. I put a liberal amout of Hi-Temp(the ted tube) RTV, nyloc nut on the bolt, and tighten then hell out of them. Let it all cure for atleast 24 hours. Always worked best for me.

Ive tried the metal core gaskets, they last maybe six months and rot away, aluminum "dead soft" blow out in less than a month, and have NEVER had luck with copper, Ive yet to see a set of copper work.

[70rs/ss]

Hedman headers come with that ball type adapter already on them and Flowmaster sells a ball type set up that do away with any and all gasket issues.

[OrangeCrush1970]

Originally Posted by custom72c20

Have you tried copper collector gaskets? They are more flexible than the aluminum and seal better. They worked for me.

I use the copper as well and have had no problems to date. They get my recomendation.