So I have leaking exhaust where the midpipe meets the headers on both sides, but the ticking noise from the leak is coming from the drivers side. I’m planning to fix it this week. I was wondering if any of you have had luck fixing these leaks without unbolting the headers from the cylinder head, and instead adjusting the midpipe by loosening it from both sides. Midpipe and headers are both BBK, by the way.
Exhaust Difficulty of fixing exhaust leak at manifold
- Thread starter dqureshi06
- Start date
DadLife0724
Active Member
Get them warm and let them cool a little and then try tightening them up. I got rid of a tick on my fox that way. Don't hammer them down too hard but you will probably get some movement.
If it’s been going on for a while the gasket may be toast, literally. If the headers are unequal length you may spend more time trying to adjust things than just pulling them and replacing gaskets. I’m not saying do t try but just be prepared.
Speaking of gaskets when gaskets did you use?
Speaking of gaskets when gaskets did you use?
keel
Active Member
I have had good luck getting header gaskets and ball and socket joints to seal better by putting a thin film of high temp copper gasket maker on the mating surfaces. You still need the actual gasket though for the headers.
Any of your local muffler shops have one of the giant belt sanders?? Not sure if you can do headers on one but getting my exhaust manifolds surface " planed" by one of these huge sanders does wonders for them...
Bbk ball and socket system is terrible for leaks, you may need to either expand the ball on the header or compress the socket on the mid pipe and load it with red or copper rtv, I cut them off at this point if there long tubes and use a v band or Torca clamps like these branded under Holley, many OEM's use those these days now. https://www.holley.com/products/exhaust/builder_components/brackets_and_clamps/parts/41172HKR. Don't confuse the torca clamps with cheap ass band strap clamps there no where near the same.
It depends where the leak is coming from. If the header to mid pipe flange is leaking, fix that. If it is leaking at a specific port, then probably best to remove the header, clean the head surface and install with new gasket.
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