Clifford header problems

[aboz]

Greetings all, It's been a while but I'm back! My 63 stepside is sitting in the driveway waiting patiently for the new clutch but damn it's cold out there. I've taken out the stock intake and exhaust manifold and installed a Clifford water cooled unit and some shorty headers. Make that... installed the headers for the THIRD TIME NOW! The gasket keeps blowing. Has anyone else had this problem? I've followed the directions to a T but you try and get a tourque wrench in those tight spaces between the manifolds. I'm tempted to slap some JB Weld over the section that is looking like it's about to give way...again. My other question is this: Has anyone ever modified a newer double walled bed with a set of 55-66 stepside fenders? I can't help thinking that the bed itself on the 60-66 is the only thing lacking in it's design. Being that it is a carry over from the 55-59 I think a little more thought should have gone into it. The only thing I've seen on the road that might work is a newer Ford Ranger bed. It has those bumped out fenders that make it look like an old step side. Perhaps a 67-72 Fleetside bed could be sectioned down the middle to make it the right width and with a little work my fenders could be welded in. If anyone has any suggestions, It would be greatly appreciated. Aboz.

[Captainfab]

It sounds to me like you've over tightened the header bolts and warped the flange. That's usually the cause of header gasket problems. You'll need to straighten it back out and then try again, but this time don't tighten them so much. Then after the engine has warmed up and cooled down a few times, re-tighten them again....just a little more than snug.

[lakeroadster]

Try doubling up on the gaskets. I had a 230 with a split manifold that kept blowing the exhaust gasket. An old timer told me to try the double gasket trick and it worked for me.