exhuast gasket leak (headers)

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

exhuast gasket leak (headers)

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Earl's Performance pressure master header gaskets.

Replaceable graphite foil in an aluminum frame. If your header flanges are in good shape, these will do the trick.

3 years on my 350, zero leaks, and the bolts have not loosened even a hair.

hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Thx Mark, will see if I can get from the local jobber, have never orderd from summit in the US and my wife thanks you too. If can't get through local jobber will try cross border shopping.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Your welcome Jim.

There is probably more than a few good solutions to leaking header flanges, but I think the trick to these gaskets, it that the thick graphite sheet can easily conform to even the most non perfect sealing surfaces.

Once in place, the material seems to be able to conform a little, as the engine heats and cools, thus helping keep even non locking bolts tight.

And the inserts are replaceable if need be.

As a note, if you do go with these, be very careful fitting the inserts into the flange (they come separate), as they are somewhat delicate.

Cheers

dualquadpete · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

would also suggest a set of "lok" bolts too!!! These have a oval washer & "C" clip that prevents the bolt from 'backing" off. I installed a set on the 51 & have had no problems since that Pete

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Locking bolts are always good insurance.

I bought Stage 8 locks for my setup, and hadn't installed the lock portion after about 2 months of driving. So I got everything ready to install, checked the bolts and they hadn't moved at all. so I just left them off. Still tight to this day.

If I was to do it again, I'd probably go with the Percy's Vibe Lock SS bolts. More expensive, but much more compact looking.

But regardless of what bolt you use, choose a set with the smallest head, and preferably one that has both Socket head (Allen) and Hex head. Makes them easy to get started in tight quarters.

Cheers and good luck.

deleted · Guru

.....hopefully those gaskets seal it up. I just don't understand why the guys make header flanges that don't seal. It is not rocket science. No gaskets should even be needed, look at the small block manifolds, they never used gaskets and work great. When I built my headers about 25 years ago for the Nailhead I used a seperate flange for each cyl, filed each one nice and flat, shoved the pipe in flush and welded it on the outside not the head side, used no gaskets , allen head bolts with spring washers and have never touched them since, they are perfect. Sure maybe not as pretty with the weld on the outside but they do the job right.

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hawkeye5766 · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

Checked with local suppliers,no go, will order gaskets and bolts from Summit. Only have 1/4" from header to power sterring box and you stated Mark that they have inserts. Do you think I will have to use exhaust cement to hold in place or once they pop into gasket they should stay on there own. Nice job on headers Johnny Ringo. Thx Jim

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

I guess there is just too much manufacturing variance with a tubular header. Some might be perfect, others way off.

I know my cheap headers have a pretty thin flange, and a not so nicely finished tube end where it comes through. To tell you the truth, that is the real reason I went with a higher end gasket. It all worked out in the end though.

cdnpont · Canadian Poncho Superstar!

hawkeye5766 wrote:
Checked with local suppliers,no go, will order gaskets and bolts from Summit. Only have 1/4" from header to power sterring box and you stated Mark that they have inserts. Do you think I will have to use exhaust cement to hold in place or once they pop into gasket they should stay on there own. Nice job on headers Johnny Ringo. Thx Jim

Oh no, they'll keep on their own. They are a very high quality.

I think the link I sent are the ones for all the small standard port SBC. But make sure, there are a few different port shapes.