Header Gasket Leak

[eightbanger]

Is there a certain type of header gasket or tips/tricks to installing gaskets to ensure they don't leak? The P.O had a pair of gaskets each side on my truck and it had always blown a little, so I decided it was time to replace all that with two new gaskets from Mr gasket, and when I first ran it on the new ones it seemed Ok but now it's blowing again particularly on the D.S, I was able to give the bolts an extra tighten so thought that was the problem....but no, it's still blowing.
The fact that my headers had two pair each side is making me think that this maybe some long running problem with my truck, any ideas?

[Shyguy]

My son always uses double stock gaskets on the headers on his engines. He re-torques the header bolts after driving it a while.

That is what I did on my 454 and have not had a problem.

[LockDoc]

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I was having the same problem on the White '67 so I bought the Copper gasket set. That cured my problem...

LockDoc

[AusTx68]

Are they old headers? The PO may of had two gaskets to make up for a warped flange. I ran into problems when I installed the cheap gaskets that came with my headers. I replaced them with Mr. Gasket Ultra-Seal gaskets. After a week or so go back and tighten the gaskets and you are set. That's if you don't have warped flanges.

[red69ss]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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I was having the same problem on the White '67 so I bought the Copper gasket set. That cured my problem...

LockDoc

thats what I used copper for the flange and collecter and never had an issue, and if you do you can likely just retighten and be good again. I always retighten mine occasionally while they are hot.

[Maxxd07]

I use regular exhaust gaskets and I also removed the extra "flange" between the bolts between 1 and 3,5 and 7 etc... Works for me.

[El Jay]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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I was having the same problem on the White '67 so I bought the Copper gasket set. That cured my problem...

LockDoc

Originally Posted by red69ss

thats what I used copper for the flange and collecter and never had an issue, and if you do you can likely just retighten and be good again. I always retighten mine occasionally while they are hot.

I'm with Leon & Red. I use copper gaskets that I got from Summit.

My only problem is I have to retorque the header bolts on occasion.

[heyray]

Go with copper they are worth the extra $

[petey-pablo]

I am useing RemFlex Gaskets and for extra piece of mind I added some Stage8 Header locking bolts working great for me so far...

[gkesseru]

I had leaks no matter what gaskets I used: fiber, copper, aluminum. I filed the header flange faces flat, and even tried to cut the connectors between the flanges. Nothing helped. Using stock manifold gaskets instead of header gaskets was closest but still has a small leak in between the middle two exhaust port. I think I'll try Rams Horns next.
Also no matter what I've done, I always have some leaks around the collector joints.

[eightbanger]

I'm really hoping it isn't a warped flange AusT I've no way of knowing how old the headers are, but they are far from new. I'll try doubling up the gaskets as they were before only because they are easy to get hold of here, but if that doesn't cure it then i'll have to order a copper set Leon from the U.S, a new set of header bolts as Petey suggested is something that I would like to go for.
Thanks to everyone for your help and suggestions.

[eightbanger]

Originally Posted by gkesseru

I had leaks no matter what gaskets I used: fiber, copper, aluminum. I filed the header flange faces flat, and even tried to cut the connectors between the flanges. Nothing helped. Using stock manifold gaskets instead of header gaskets was closest but still has a small leak in between the middle two exhaust port. I think I'll try Rams Horns next.
Also no matter what I've done, I always have some leaks around the collector joints.

Why would that be? do you think the actual heads themselves were not flat?
I hope I don't run into that problem...sounds like a nightmare.

[geezer#99]

I had the same thing with headers 30 years ago. Back then the cure was to soak your gaskets in a bucket of water overnight. That's with the paper or cardboard type gaskets.
Theory was that when wet the gaskets conformed to every part of the flange. Strangely it worked. Compressed the gasket and bolts tightened up better. Could be a cure till you get some better gaskets.

[jcis4me]

Aloha
Mine is doing the same thing the ds front with the Mr Gasket Alt bracket, no matter what I do, I used 1" long bolts one with a flange to grab the bracket and of course the one under the header is the problem child not being able to tighten properly. I asked a hot rodder here and he told me to use rtv high temp copper silicone just a small bead on both sides then install? I am going to try it tonight after getting off work.
I also bought a stubby set of wrenches and the wrench fits, but if not I am going to bend another wrench on an angle, any other suggestions???
Aloha
Marty

[cdowns]

i have used the dead soft copper ones for many years and on quite a few different applications and have had good results// header bolts are tightened every oil change as routine preventive maintenence as well as grease and lubrication and other routine checks to keep old vehicles running and reliable

[geezer#99]

Originally Posted by jcis4me

I also bought a stubby set of wrenches and the wrench fits, but if not I am going to bend another wrench on an angle, any other suggestions???
Aloha
Marty

Marty. Ever heard of a wrench called a crow's foot. Made for wrenchin' in tight spots. Sorry no pics or linky.

[02vetteracer]

I have fixed many headers for my race buddies over the years that either crack or leak from cracks in the heat affected zone right next to the header flange. Anyway one of the things I do when repairing a header is tig weld a small 1/16" or less bead around each port on the flange which crushes into the thick fel-pro or mr. gasket, this kind of locks the whole environment into place and will not hurt the aluminum heads that they are in contact with. Just something else to try if you have the time.
good luck.

[DetroitIron]

What about using that high heat RTV in place of gaskets? A mechanic friend told me that is what they do at his shop.

[jcis4me]

Aloha Geezer
Tried the crows foot, the problem is that the crows foot has to circle up or down to work and the 3/8 extension hits the header! I think that the stubby wrench will work because it tightened the bolt but the header gasket is blown out, may even try the doubled up idea.
Detroit
I am going to try the gasket sealer tonight after work and will post the out come!
Aloha
Marty

[eightbanger]

This is great....I'm gonna nail this sucker now!! i'll go through all these ideas till I find the one that works.
Cheers guys.

[wwotr]

Originally Posted by LockDoc

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I was having the same problem on the White '67 so I bought the Copper gasket set. That cured my problem...

LockDoc

Yep. Copper is the only way to go...............

[bigsnookmaster]

Originally Posted by AusTx68

Are they old headers? The PO may of had two gaskets to make up for a warped flange. I ran into problems when I installed the cheap gaskets that came with my headers. I replaced them with Mr. Gasket Ultra-Seal gaskets. After a week or so go back and tighten the gaskets and you are set. That's if you don't have warped flanges.

X-2 on the Ultra Seals. I have never had one blow out, if they loosen, just re-torque. Get a nice straight edge and check the flange for straightness. If they are too out of kilter, you might be wasting your time. .02

[jcis4me]

Aloha
Follow up on the copper rtv gasket silicone, so far so good, took every thing off and cleaned the surfaces applied the silicone to gaskets let them skin over and installed the gaskets, applying blue lock tight to the bolts and tightened them a bit at a time going back and forth tightening as I went until they were equally torqued down. By the way I bought a stubby set of wrenches from the big orange box Sunday and the stubby wrench worked great on the front DS with the alt bracket. Just had to remove the spark plug to gain more access to the bolt.
All said and done I fired up the engine and no more header noise, the real test is when i drive it to work in the morning. I will report on it when I get home tomorrow afternoon. My fingers crossed!!!
Aloha
Marty

[eightbanger]

Just an update, I undid the header on the driver side and the gasket was clearly showing evidence of blow past on the last port closest to the firewall, I decided to remove the entire header for a better look to see if the flange was warped, it was straight but I found really uneven welding on the flange to that tube so I ground it level and then used RTV on the gasket and block bolted back up and I can cheerfully say it's been a success...so far!

Cheers.

[LockDoc]

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Good to hear. Sometimes the smallest thing can cause BIG aggravation...

LockDoc