Copper Header Gaskets

[diablopony]

I replaced my blown header gaskets with Mr. Gasket copper gaskets and they leak worse than the old ones. Any tricks to the copper ones before I replace them with the good old Felpros?

 

[tx65coupe]

Try Percy's seal for good gaskets. These seem to work well. I have them on my car. I also know a few others that have them and have no complaints. You can get them from Summit and probably Jegs.

 

[D.Hearne]

X 2 on Percy's. I've got em on both my 302 and 331. Zero leaks. The set on the 302 have been reused three times now.

 

[diablopony]

I'm ordering a set today. Are the Percy's High Performance 66014 Exhaust Gaskets, Header, Seal-4-Good, Aluminum, Square Port, Ford, Small Block the ones you are using? I have the Ford Racing X303 heads, so wanted to be sure. Also, what do you think about the Percy's header bolts? I've got ARPs, but they seem to back out almost every time I drive the car. Thanks again for the great information.

 

[Gearbanger 101]

I replaced my blown header gaskets with Mr. Gasket copper gaskets and they leak worse than the old ones. Any tricks to the copper ones before I replace them with the good old Felpros?

I had the same problem. Worst investment I ever made. I'll never buy those again.

 

[bnickel]

i also have the percy's seal 4 good gaskets on the header flanges and at the collectors as well and they do not leak at all, best investment i've ever made in header gaskets. i've used paper gaaskets, both dry and soaked in water before installation, copper gaskets, fel-pro, mr gasket, etc, etc and RTV alone and in combo with paper gaskets and/or copper gaskets an the percy's aluminum seal 4 good gaskets are hands down the best.....

 

[10secgoal]

Did you check to see how the header matched up to the port. Some are oval shaped and a real muther to seal without the correct gasket.

 

[D.Hearne]

I'm ordering a set today. Are the Percy's High Performance 66014 Exhaust Gaskets, Header, Seal-4-Good, Aluminum, Square Port, Ford, Small Block the ones you are using? I have the Ford Racing X303 heads, so wanted to be sure. Also, what do you think about the Percy's header bolts? I've got ARPs, but they seem to back out almost every time I drive the car. Thanks again for the great information.

My headers are square port, you want the gaskets to match the header port. I use plain jane 3/8" headed header bolts. You Do need to go back occasionally and tighten them again. But not as often as with paper gaskets. I think I've had to do this once or twice with Percy's.

 

[68stang351]

Percy's gaskets are the way to go. I have had these on my 68 for about 5 years now, and have had zero leaks. My header bolts even seem to stay tight now also. I guess because the gaskets are putting tension on the bolts because it's being compressed, but I check them occasionally and they are always tight.

 

[Rusty67]

I just used RTV on my headers and they never leaked a bit. When you tighten the header bolts, its important that you start from the center and move outward. Tightening them from front to back or back to front will lead to an imporoper seal and/or the bolts backing out on you.

 

[tx65coupe]

Rusty is correct about that.

 

[diablopony]

I installed the Percy's today and they rock! The copper ones were leaking out of 5 ports. What a mess. My car sounds a 1,000Xs better without the tick/tick of the exhaust leaks. Thanks for the great advice.

 

[Frankies65]

Yeah - coppers suck. The Percy's are awesome despite the cost!