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#1 |
4 eyed fever
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eureka, Nevada
Posts: 500
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header gasket blow outs
Iv'e put about 7000 miles on my truck since purchasing it and keep having it blow header gaskets. When I got it, it was blown on the driver side, back 2 ex. ports. I replaced them and about 4000 miles later it was blown again. Now it is starting to make noise again. Anyone else have these problems? Is there a better gasket available? I don't know what brand header is on my 350, but the po thought they were hookers. Iv'e had cheap thin headers on another rig do this, but in that instance the flange was warped. When I bought new headers it solved the problem. These flanges are about 3/8" thick. Any ideas? Thanks, Al
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1971 GMC 2500 4x4 1972 GMC Sierra Grande 1/2 t 4x4-#1 son's truck. Recently completed resto. 4 YO daughter," Daddy, I like your truck better than Mom's." (2000 F350-ranch truck) Smart kid!! |
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#2 |
huh ???
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: Fredericksburg,Va.
Posts: 3,369
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The main reason I've had them blow out is because the header bolts back out of the head. I was talking to a buddy a few weeks ago about the problem and he said they used high temp rtv instead of a gasket and haven't had any blow outs since...
Chuck
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90 Blazer Silverado 350w/ 700R4 and 32" Kelly's "I am a bomb technician. If you see me running try to keep up!" |
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#3 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: GRAFTON , OHIO
Posts: 58
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Try permatex : Ultra Black high temp silicone.
Apply it and let it set up a little before installing ,and dont over tighten. dont run the engine til its cured. you can snug the bolts up again later. If the headers dont have a very heavy flange, run good qaulity header gasket with the ultra black. Good luck.... |
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#4 |
4 eyed fever
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eureka, Nevada
Posts: 500
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rodsbyt and 72custom- thanks, i'll give it a try.
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1971 GMC 2500 4x4 1972 GMC Sierra Grande 1/2 t 4x4-#1 son's truck. Recently completed resto. 4 YO daughter," Daddy, I like your truck better than Mom's." (2000 F350-ranch truck) Smart kid!! |
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#5 |
Low & Slow
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Oklahoma
Posts: 1,047
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Try using stock exhaust manifold gaskets from felpro-
I've been doing this for some time and haven't had a leak since... The gaskets i'm talking about are like 2-3 bucks at the parts store.. one side is silver. You'll never go back to those crappy header gaskets. ![]()
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70' C-10 LWB Fleetside 4.5/6 drop ![]() |
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#6 |
4 eyed fever
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eureka, Nevada
Posts: 500
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That's actually what I used last time I replaced them, except in a 1 horse town those same gaskets were around $10.
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1971 GMC 2500 4x4 1972 GMC Sierra Grande 1/2 t 4x4-#1 son's truck. Recently completed resto. 4 YO daughter," Daddy, I like your truck better than Mom's." (2000 F350-ranch truck) Smart kid!! |
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#7 |
Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2003
Location: dallas/ftwoth
Posts: 112
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try using the copper header gaskets pick them up at any performance parts place when they start leaking allyou have to do is tighten them up i only had to tighten them up only ounce in 30000 miles
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#8 |
blood type; Retumbo
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: next to my reloading bench
Posts: 10,269
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I had the same problem until I git the copper ones. they cost about $45 but havent leaked at all in 2 years. I also bought some 12 point bolts ($7 from Pioneer brand). tightened them down, drove it a day & resnugged them. never touched since that. I think Mr. Gasket ones have a no-leak warranty. look for the thickest ones you can find. mine are .035"
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Man rule #77...if you own a 67 stepside with a caddy 472 you will never be in danger of loosing you man card |
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#9 |
its all about the +6 inches
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Hilliard Ohio
Posts: 2,693
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HAve you been checking the torque on the bolts every once in a while? They tend to back out on there own, and if they do and you don't catch it, then a blown gasket can be the result.
I too have never used a header gasket. The first set of headers I bought a buddy of mine tossed me some fell pro manifold gaskets, and they lasted 2 years....untill I pulled the heads. Then on the GMC, I think I had one side on there for 3 years...can't remember if I ever did pull the passenger side one, I know I did on the drivers side when I pulled the tranny to install a converter. |
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#10 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Aug 2001
Location: SOMERSET KY.
Posts: 6,427
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junkyardjohn 69 1 TON TOW TRUCK // 84 4WD CUCV BLAZER// 85 1 TON 4WD STAKE TRUCK// 86 M1031 5/4 TON 4WD CUCV// ALOT OF OLD TRUCKS FOR ONE OLD MAN TO DRIVE. ![]() LIFE MEMBER OF P.E.T.A (PEOPLE EATING TASTY ANIMALS) DON'T RENT U-HAUL ALWAYS TELL THE TRUTH IT WILL AMAZE PART OF THE PEOPLE & ASTONISH THE REST |
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#11 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: East Central, MO
Posts: 11,336
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My bolts have never backed out in the last 20 years or so and I have had no leaks. I don't use messy silicone, pay money for expensive gaskets or locking bolts.
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#12 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jun 2005
Location: Chattanooga TN
Posts: 115
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I use either copper or aluminum. You can reuse them for the life of your truck no matter how many times you remove the headers for any reason.
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#13 |
Watch out for your cornhole !
![]() Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Azle, Texas
Posts: 14,162
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It sounds like you may have a set of poor quality, cheap headers.
The previous owner may say they are Hookers, but every Hooker header I've ever owned or seen had a Hooker nameplate welded onto them.
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I'm on the Instagram- @Gearhead_Kevin Last edited by Tx Firefighter; 07-31-2005 at 11:36 AM. |
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#14 |
4 eyed fever
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eureka, Nevada
Posts: 500
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longhorn man- i retighten the bolts from time to time. and yes they are backing out. mostly the back one on the driver side. it's a little hard to get torqed down good.
junkyardjohn- that sounds like it's worth a try. tx firefighter- i haven't looked for a nameplate, but they look like pretty heavy flanges. the po didn't do any work himself and probably said hookers cause it's the only brand of header he could think of! Thanks everyone for the tips. my son wants headers on his when we do the heart swap. so i either need to find a solution or donate my headers to him and take his stock manifolds for my truck. lol
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1971 GMC 2500 4x4 1972 GMC Sierra Grande 1/2 t 4x4-#1 son's truck. Recently completed resto. 4 YO daughter," Daddy, I like your truck better than Mom's." (2000 F350-ranch truck) Smart kid!! |
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#15 |
Registered User
![]() Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: East Central, MO
Posts: 11,336
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Just cut the flanges with a sawsall and use manifold gaskets. You're bolts won't work loose.
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#16 |
4 eyed fever
Join Date: Jul 2005
Location: Eureka, Nevada
Posts: 500
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hey mudder67- i cut them, but now my heads are cut all to hell! was i supposed to take them off first? just kidding!
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1971 GMC 2500 4x4 1972 GMC Sierra Grande 1/2 t 4x4-#1 son's truck. Recently completed resto. 4 YO daughter," Daddy, I like your truck better than Mom's." (2000 F350-ranch truck) Smart kid!! |
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#17 | |
User #12137
![]() Join Date: Apr 2004
Location: kingsport,upper east tenn
Posts: 11,598
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Quote:
![]() ![]() ![]() i have cut a bunch of headers like mudder said to and it works |
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#18 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Austin, Texas
Posts: 73
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An old Hot Rod trick I learned loooooooong ago is soaking the header gaskets in water for a 1/2 hour or longer then put'em on and snug'em down again after they dry and that should take care of leaks around the flange. If you have a bent flange you can use this same trick and double the gaskets on the bent side. It alway's worked when I used headers.
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#19 |
Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Garland TX Dallas area
Posts: 658
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Had the same problem till I doubled the gaskets on each side works great. I have also heard the copper work good.
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1998 Pontiac Grad Prix GTP 1969 C10 396 TH400 3.08 posi |
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#20 |
Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Walker Co. Alabama
Posts: 474
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I never had much luck either with the header gaskets. I've used the metal/fiber manifold gaskets too before and they worked pretty good. Now all I do is clean the head and header off real good and put some copper hightemp silicone between them. I don't have any leaks any more.
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If it don't fit, force it,...If it still don't fit , modify it 'till it does fit !!! ![]() ![]() |
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