Busted Header Gasket ?'s. Also, easiest way to change headers?

[Matsui56]

Well, I got the header loose and took the old gasket off, just as everyone suspected, it was completely busted where the bolts had backed out.

So I get the new gasket, slip it on, get the header back on, start her up and.... STILL A DAMN LEAK. Shut it down, retightened the bolts, and still had the leak.

So all of a sudden I look down at the other gasket that came with the one I put on, and see that it is oval port and the headers I have are rectangle. Would this be causing the noise, or is the header possibly warped or bent? I bottomed out the H-pipe (hanging low, didnt have any hangers on it) on a friends driveway pulling in a couple weeks ago, and while the leak didnt happen right after that, it did a few days later. Could that have bent the header flange?

Also, what would the easiest way step by step be to change the headers assuming this is what I need to do?

 

[5.0_HO_GT]

I would first recommend that you find out where the leak is coming from directly as this will make for an easier solution. You can use a piece of hose to listen for the leak while the motors on or put some baby powder on the headers and rev the motor while a friend watches to see which direction the powder blows. You probably didn't bend the flanges on the driveway as the exhaust is on hangers that can move a bit. The gaskets could definately be at fault though.

 

[Matsui56]

Well, the exhaust was not on hangers, so thats why I was wondering if that might have changed anything. I've been led to believe that the headers are banged up, so I may perhaps just go ahead and get the correct gaskets first before I go and blow 200 bucks on new headers.

 

[mo_dingo]

Try the baby powder, or some really "bubbley" soap. That should show you where the leak is. Did you use a torque wrench, and torque to spec? What gasket did you use?

You should have used a gasket that was meant for the header. It may also have caused the problem.

Since the hangers weren't on, the exhaust had a lot of room to move. I doubt that it is the culprit. But, as life goes, anything is possible.

Find the leak, install a new & correct gasket (if necessary), and there you go!
Scott

 

[VIPERn94Five-0]

yeah try the babypowder trick....and get some felpro 1415's for those headers....


Anthony

 

[Matsui56]

I'm gonna grab the correct gaskets after work today and try the babypowder trick.

Hopefully it is just the gasket, but if not looks like I got some header shopping to do. I'll pick up those 1415's if I get new headers.

 

[SN95Oh]

Try copper header gaskets... I used that on my old car because a header bolt was brock off in the block. And it worked just fine. Plus they are reusable. But they are $20 a pop =\