Header Bolts and Gasket Question.

[94-302-vert]

Just bought some used headers on eBay... Wondering what gaskets and bolts I should use as I only want to do gaskets once... I was thinking a copper gasket set and some stage 8 bolts. Is this really needed?

Thanks!!!

 

[Starman]

get some of the Breslin locking header bolts. They're much easier than the Stage 8 (no washers or c-clips to mess with).

Copper gaskets should be fine, but I like the Earls Performance ones with the replacable graphite inserts personally.

 

[kck6894]

Use the Bassani ones that have the replaceable graphite inserts. Best gaskets ever made!!!! If you only want to do it once they are what you want. You don't need fancy locking bolts either

 

[S/CBlack95GT]

Fel-Pro 1415s are cheap and work great!! I have had good luck using regular ARP header bolts. Just torque them to about 30 ft-lbs.

 

[Rootus]

Fel-Pro 1415s are cheap and work great!! I have had good luck using regular ARP header bolts. Just torque them to about 30 ft-lbs.

Another vote for Fel Pro 1415. I have tried copper gaskets, multi-layer dead soft aluminum gaskets, and paper gaskets (came with my BBK longtubes). The paper ones didn't leak, but they were a PITA to remove and had to be scraped off in chunks. The Fel Pro 1415's have a steel core and come off in one piece if you have to remove them, and I've never had one leak.

For bolts I've used Stage 8 locking bolts, but they're a PITA. If I were buying again I'd probably get the expanding ones that lock with a bolt going down the center (can't remember brand name or anything, but do remember hearing about them. Seems much easier than dealing with the locks & c-clips that come with the Stage 8's).

Dave

 

[94-302-vert]

The only locking ones I am seeing are the Stage 8. What breslin ones would I need?

 

[SQUEEZE&STROKE]

FEL PRO'S ALL THE WAY!!!!!! I too have tried so many different ones but the felpro's seem to work the best, esp with ultra copper, arp header bolts and loctite!

 

[wytstang]

Bresin are sold on summit those are the ones I want to get. Mootang has them and he told them they were great. Summit part # bpp-200-077 for big Chevy, small and big Ford 3/8'' head x 3/4'' L.

 

[legalize420]

i had the copper gaskets that came with the mac headers. i swapped them out this weekend for the felpros. no more tick tick noise.

 

[FastFord]

Fel-pro!! I am using Stage 8 and love them, but if there is an easier locking header bolt...

 

[wicked95gt]

I just put the breslin locking header bolts in and they are awesome. They are a lot easier to put in than the stage 8s. Part # BPP-200-077

 

[Smak94]

Another vote for Felpro 1415s. Cheap and can be found at any local parts store (at least around here).

Skip the Stage 8 header bolts. I bought them and they are a major PITA to get the washers and c-clips on/off. I ended up just using the bolts after i had to disassemble my engine 3 times.

How in the world do you guys torque them down ? I'm not able to get a socket to most of them, I just tighten them as much as i can with a wrench.

 

[final5-0]

You guys can laugh if you want to and say you don't believe me but ...........

Here is a poor mans locking system that works every time. I've done this over many years with great results.

I put my combo together during the Christmas holidays in 2002 and have not lost a single header bolt and I'm still using the same Felpro gasket.

All I did was tighten them after two heat cycles.

Its all been good since then.

The pic shows a regular lock washer on the left and the middle washer is the what I've used the most but if you've got a bolt that is really tight, you can use the star washer you see on the right.

Later
Grady

 

[Methodical]

You guys can laugh if you want to and say you don't believe me but ...........

Here is a poor mans locking system that works every time. I've done this over many years with great results.

I put my combo together during the Christmas holidays in 2002 and have not lost a single header bolt and I'm still using the same Felpro gasket.

All I did was tighten them after two heat cycles.

Its all been good since then.

The pic shows a regular lock washer on the left and the middle washer is the what I've used the most but if you've got a bolt that is really tight, you can use the star washer you see on the right.

Later
Grady

Ditto.

 

[94-302-vert]

How bad are they to get to to tighten to change jsut the bolts and gaskets???

I like poor man methods when they work well... It is hard to spend $60 on bolts if you know what I mean...

 

[Rootus]

I like Grady's idea.

Just today I took off my longtubes (and one of my AFR heads ), and I am reminded of what a PITA the Stage 8 bolts are...

Dave