Assembly Questions

[Palf70Step]

I'm trying to get all the little parts I need to get the crate motor ready to drop in. What do you folks recommend for header gaskets. This is the first street vehicle I have had with them and first one I have had with headers at all in over 20 years. The headers I have are what came with the truck. They say they are DYNOMAX Performance. I've heard mention of copper gaskest and all, but not sure what will hold up the best.

Any how what's the recommendations?

Also, do I use a standard water temp sender or do I need to buy one specificly for the gauge I am using (VDO)?

Also recommendations for plug wires/looms. I have stock HEI.

[krue]

The best gaskets I've heard of people using are stock exhaust manifold gaskets, but I've never run headers so there you go.

[68/72parts]

Hey, any quality header gasket from hedman or hooker would work great it the headers are of decent quality? Or you can use the o.e exhaust gaskets and they work quite well to.. You can also get extra thick gaskets from most part stores if the header flanges are not to strait anymore.. Whatever you decide pay the extra cash and get a set of Stage8 or Splitlock header bolts, once you heat cycle the headers a few times, re-torque them and set the locks and youll never have header gasket leaks.. Ive had mine on the truck for two years and never touched the first set of header gaskets yet.. Hope I could help??

[Hart_Rod]

Bill,

IMO, the copper or metal ones are the way to go. I've used them on several cars and they worked great with no leaks or breaks like the paper ones. BTW, I got 4 day weekend coming up, so will try to make it over this weekend.

Rob

[Palf70Step]

sounds good Rob.....I know I'm on the road Monday. Not sure about this Friday though. But Sat and Sun I'm here for sure. We talk closer to then.

[Longhorn Man]

Which end of the header are you talking about?
Up top, I have only used stock manifold gaskets, and NEVER had a problem onless I reused them too many times. I was able to use each set more than once with no leaks. Normally by the 3rd time, I was asking for trouble though.
On the collector, I spent like 30 bucks or something after many many of the paper junk gaskets. I got the dead seft alluminum, probably almost 1/4 inch thick. You could leave a dent in it from your fingernail. I used them, and reused them, installed them on another set of headers, and reused them more and more, I ran the same ones from 97 untill 04, on 2 trucks, 3 engines, 2 sets of headers, and 3 or 4 sets of pipes. Never had an issue with a proper set of pipes... or even close to proper. When i had to rig up a set of pipes that was nothing more than mufflers and 6 inches of pipe, I had some issues that lead to leakage, but it was caused by muffler packaging issues.
The main thing you need to do, is look at the pipes and make sure everything is smooth, the cheaper the header, the worst it'll be (normally).

[Palf70Step]

Andy those are what the old engine had for gastkets for the headers. I had never seen that style gasket before. Thought it was a rednecked dope smokin old man thing. . And yes I was looking for suggestion at both ends, since I'll need both.

[8bolt]

One of the truck shows I saw said to double up on the gaskets and they will never leak, I've never tried it so I don't know if it works.

[clay68c10]

On the subject of your coolant temp sender, you probably need the one from VDO. I doubt it is the same ohm range as the stock GM sender.

[Longhorn Man]

Those gaskets are the typical manifold gaskets that come in the gasket kits, or by them self. I've never seen anything other than this.

Double up on gaskets... I know the paper ones for the collectors will still blow out doubled, or trippled.

[rage'nrat638]

buy stage 8 locking bolts and copper gaskets or stock gaskets
never have a problem.really want to cure the problem install flex joints after the headers .
this way the twisting engin and the ridge exhaust won't be trying to rip your headers off the engine.
the stage 8 locking bolts are the greatest.
ran my 638 two years doing 5500 rpm launch's and still no header leaks

VDO has there own temp sender units set up for there gauges

[junkyardjohn]

Originally Posted by rage'nrat638

the stage 8 locking bolts are the greatest.
ran my 638 two years doing 5500 rpm launch's and still no header leaks

COULDN'T AGREE MORE. I"VE BEEN BEEN RUNNING STAGE "8" HEADER LOCKING BOLTS ON EVERYTHING I DRIVE WITH HEADERS FOR ABOUT 10 YEARS. ONCE YOU USE THEM.. YOU'LL NEVER HAVE HEADERS WITHOUT A SET OF STAGE "8" BOLTS. JOHN

[Tx Firefighter]

I agree with ragenrat, in that a lot of problems can be traced to the engine moving around and the exhaust being anchored to the frame not moving with it.

On my current exhaust project, I'm building a pair of hanger brackets off the trans mount, so the pipes are actually hung to the drivetrain and will move as the engine does.

I've seen a lot of later model OEM exhausts done this way, ie, S10 trucks and my wife's 5.0L Mustang.

[al's71gmc]

I had problems with blowing the header gaskets on mine. They have a thin flange and are probably warped. I doubled up with stock manifold gaskets(felpro) and haven't had a problem yet. Been about 6k miles so far. That may not sound like alot, but I was losing them every 2 or 3k before.

[Palf70Step]

OK guys...I am confused.

I'm looking at the Stage 8 Locking bolts and wondering what's the difference between a double hex head and a 12 point, and which is the best to get? I've always used the studs before on exhaust mounts, so this bolt thing is sorta new.

[zeeklu]

I agree with JUNKYARDJOHN. Stage 8 bolts are the only way to go. Chris