header gaskets?

[sodak69c10]

ok got the new motor put in my truck this week now i back to tring to get the haeders to seal and stop burning out, there are a few ways i know to do this

1: 2 gaskets per side
2: brass gaskets
3:header locking bolts
4: new gaskets, drive till hot, re tighten, repeat

any thoughts on these? or any other ideas

[powell72]

I like to buy good gaskets, then run a thin film of copper RTV around the ports on both sides. Let them dry and install and then do the tighten while hot thing a couple times. The locking bolts wouldn't hurt either.

[sodak69c10]

i don't think lock titing bolts would work , mainly because heating lock tite makes it loosen up maybe i'm mistaken

but it do think i will try the locking bolts with the little wings that come off and wedge the bolts

what kind of gaskets you use

[Mudder]

Pay about 7 bucks for manifold (metalic) gaskets. Cut the header flanges. Tighten the bolts and forget about them.

[TN70C10]

i use the dead soft aluminum gaskets. they never leak and ive had them off and reused them 3 or 4 times. i dont have anything nice to say about the copper ones that i have tried and seems like they never seal up all the way. if i hadnt tried the aluminum ones , i would be running manifolds cause i hate exhaust leaks and i hate changing header gaskets

[sodak69c10]

thanx for the input i'll try manigold gaskets, as a matter of fact thats what i just took off another motor

[piecesparts]

Everyone has their point of view on what to do. The solutions are all good. I choose to use FEL-PRO header and collector gaskets, first for the cost and availability, and second because they stand up for a long time. I take my gaskets and coat them with "Copper Coat" gasket sealer and let it dry to the point that the tackyness is gone. I install the gaskets with header bolts that have "Teflon Tape" on them. This is for two reasons, also; the tape keeps the header bolts from loosening up and causing leaks at the exhaust ports and the tape also keeps the bolts from seizing up in the head. My headers on my trucks have NOT been messed with since their install. The daily driver has over 30,000 miles on the headers and the 84 GMC has been set for the better part of 5 years. My wife's Impala SS has had the headers on it since 1997 and they are still tight. The collector gaskets are held in place with bolts that are double nutted to keep from loosening.

[corn]

Originally Posted by Mudder

Pay about 7 bucks for manifold (metalic) gaskets. Cut the header flanges. Tighten the bolts and forget about them.

I agree... Ive used one set of header gaskets in my life. Then I switched to manifold gaskets with no more problems EVER!

[Phillie]

soak them in water....it allows you to tighten them down tighter. Once they are dry you won't have any problems. We've been doing it that way on our racecars for years.....

[Musclerodz]

We have dead soft one's available that are great for warped cheap headers, or we have a thin carbon material gasket good to 2000*, and it is garunteed not to burn out.

Mike

[sodak69c10]

these are the headers i'm using(this pic is of a camaro set the truck sets are shaped different) they are flowtech afterburner chamber headers the paint burned off right away though, any more info on the "soaking gaskets in water"

[70gmcjimmy]

Hey SoDak! Nice lookin engine you have there. To fix this question locally, go down to Parts Central and talk to Chris Becket, the owner, and tell him DAC, the sign guy sent you. I put new headers on my C2500 8 or 10 years ago. The gaskets he sold me look like the material a stock one is made from xcept its a full header gasket. He told me that these things wont leak, installed correctly. They NEVER leaked, or needed re-torqued. I unbolted the headers once and put in head gaskets a couple of years ago and re used them old gaskets again with the same results. Didnt even have to re-torque used gaskets. They are holding up better than the rest of the truck!

Later---DAC

[sodak69c10]

parts central ? what street is that on?

[70gmcjimmy]

Hello again SoDak,
Parts Central is at 415 Main Street, also known wholesale wise as Ace
Warehouse. Been letterin' thier parts runnin' vehicles since the mid 80s.

Later---DAC