Exhaust Leak, Coper Rtv?

splogan · Nov 13, 2016

I have an exhaust leak I can not find. I believe the BBK headers may not have ever sealed properly. Many swear by using copper RTV, but I have read to use both with and without a standard gasket, which is correct? Additionally I am about to install a GT40 upper/lower I salvaged from an exploder, would the RTV work there also and if yes, same question, with or without standard gasket also?

RangerJoe · Nov 13, 2016

The copper rtv works well with the headers. no, use Intake gaskets on the intake.

Joe

General karthief · Nov 13, 2016

I think there is a sticky thing here on intake installs.
Leak at the header flange should be fairly easy to identify, sometimes it's a ticking sound, do the headers have a solid flange or are the tubes individual?

splogan · Nov 13, 2016

The flange is a solid flange. It has the ticking under throttle. Last night under hard throttle I even had a pop. If I am hearing it correctly it is the passenger side giving me fits

General karthief · Nov 13, 2016

Take a funnel, a long one and point the small end around the area in question holding the big end NEAR your ear, should be able to pin point it, I have a modified stethoscope. Kinda hard on passenger side with air pump hoses in the way,
Get a set of quality gaskets, I have heard of soaking them in water before installing, don't know how long you soak them, never tried it my self.
Sometimes it's just loose bolts, or maybe loosen them up and retighen.

splogan · Nov 13, 2016

When I yanked the header you could see where it was leaking and blown. I cleaned the surface and will copper RTV it in place and see if it does better.

mikestang63 · Nov 13, 2016

take a piece of notebook paper or thin cardboard and hold it under each flange. You will feel the exhaust coming off where texhaust leak is..

General karthief · Nov 14, 2016

Are you using a gasket or just the copper crap er gasket sealer?

splogan · Nov 14, 2016

I am going to use just the RTV, no gasket. I had the gaskets that came with the headers in there.

srtthis · Nov 14, 2016

RTV works great as long as the surface is flat. if its warped it will last for a bit then just blow it out.

splogan · Nov 14, 2016

I will know after I get it back together. I already talked to a guy at the shop. They use the RTV on their race cars and said if I need him to he can machine the surface flat and reinstall. I hate to go that route, will cost half as much as the damn headers.

General karthief · Nov 14, 2016

Just use gaskets and a thin coat on the header side, the race car guys disassemble thier stuff all the time, likely will leak again without.

srtthis · Nov 15, 2016

karthief said:
Just use gaskets and a thin coat on the header side, the race car guys disassemble thier stuff all the time, likely will leak again without.

we dont touch anything till we have too. we check the valves and change the oil. we went all season and the only thing we did was check the valves and change the oil.

General karthief · Nov 15, 2016

I knew that.

CarMichael Angelo · Nov 15, 2016

Do not use the freakin gaskets for Christ sake. They are the problem. They heat fatigue, and blow.

I have used nothing but RTV as the primary sealant/gasket on every exhaust manifold/header I've installed in the last 20 years.

Bead,....let it skin over, install loosely, finger tighten, let it sit for an hour and tighten the pss outta them.

No leaky.

7upstang91 · Nov 15, 2016

Willing to be that BBK header needs to be trued as well.

JD1964 · Nov 15, 2016

I've had success using Percy's dead soft aluminum gaskets. Both at the head flange and collectors on Fords and Chevys. I've had the occasional loose bolt but never a gasket burnout.

The paper based gaskets burn out when they develop even slight leaks. The aluminum ones don't burn. I've even reuse them. No RTV.

https://m.summitracing.com/parts/ph...-performance&gclid=CP3R-sqWrNACFUlLDQody1UDkw

CarMichael Angelo · Nov 15, 2016

https://www.summitracing.com/parts/...17YOdQn8xdyKgd-Ksfju0SptohblZtNscdxoCSWLw_wcB

Meh,....35 bucks vs 6........

Tough decision......

Give me a minute.............

I'll take the 6 dollar solution for 1000 for the block Wink.

JD1964 · Nov 15, 2016

The Percy's have always served me well. I've never tried RTV. But if you say it works good, I believe you.

RangerJoe · Nov 16, 2016

I bought the percy's.....blew them out. Copper RTV now.

Joe

Exhaust Leak, Coper Rtv?

splogan

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

splogan

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

splogan

mikestang63

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

splogan

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

splogan

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

srtthis

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

General karthief

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

7upstang91

JD1964

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

CarMichael Angelo

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

JD1964

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

RangerJoe

I leave the horn on while driving

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Exhaust Leak, Coper Rtv?

I leave the horn on while driving

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

the guy doing it does every local racers rear end

wonder how much it would cost to ship you a pair

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

my rearend will smell so minty fresh,

there is enough sticking out to grab on to

I leave the horn on while driving

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