Header issue:

[elorenzof]

I have a newly built 383 stroker rectangle exhaust port SBC in a 1970 c10 4x2

I would of kept the rams horn exhaust manifolds however i was told that with a 383 the exhaust diameter of 2" off the manifold is not sufficient for breathability.

So I purchased Hedman mid length headers and installed. Right Side exhaust leak. ( I had aready taken it (towed) to a muffler shop to get the exhaust completed.)

I used the exhaust gaskets from the Felpro Engine gasket kit, i was told by a friend they are junk.

Three attempts to solve this header leak i FINALLY look at the header itself and the header is not welded correctly! The flange is at a "slant and there is almost no raised port around cylinder # 2 to mate against the cylinder head. They are dart 2 heads and i see no issues whatsoever with the cylinder head ports at all. So i got real expensive thick copper gaskets and tried again and its still leaking. So i went to Ramjet Speedway here in phoenix and purchased another set of headers. (this has been a two year build and i dont even know where my receipt is for the original headers i purchased.) The 2nd set of headers is just as bad or worse. Now the exhaust leak is WORSE.

How do i solve this? Does anyone have a suggestion for rectangle port mid length headers? I know i will have to re-dood my exhaust at the header junction but geez i just wanna drive this new truck.

At this time expensive headers sounds better than not driving the truck at all.

anyone?