Header Gaskets

Are the gaskets supplied with the headers sufficient? They're bbk BTW. Or should I invest in some better ones?

They can be :D

They are not as durable as the Felpro.

That is all I used on my race cars :)
I ran almost every weekend but I also usually tore down the motor
every two or three months ... but .....
I never had a blow out with those gaskets.

The deal with making ANY header gasket last is ..........

You want the entire exhaust system very secure with no shaking or
banging against the frame or other parts.

When you install new gaskets, you wanna tighten the header bolts
one more time after NO MORE than two SHORT heat cycles.

You need some kind of header bolt locking method or the bolts will
loosen over time due to them getting hot-cold, hot-cold over and
over. Simple stainless steel lock washers work great and the
cost is only pennies ;)

Another thing on the card board/paper gaskets ...........

I've seen some say to soak them in water a few hours before install
but
I never did it so I got no experience with that method :shrug:

Grady
 
Great advice from Grady, as always :nice:

I've only ever heard bad things about the BBK paper gaskets, so when I got my headers I immediately went out and got a set of Felpros to install them with. No leaks at all so far, after 2 months.
 
I've had great luck with FelPro 1415 + bolts and lockwashers on several cars.

Wes

Exactly what I did with my little 95 :D

I put it together during the Christmas holidays back in 2002 with the
procedures I outlined above :)

Still to this day ... I've had no bolts loosen
and
I'm on the same header gaskets with no problems of any kind

btw ... those gaskets do have a front and back :D

Grady
 
these are the gaskets i used with aftermarket headers mr. gasket #5928 click on link http://performanceparts.com/part.php?partID=37973 the gaskets supplied with my headers gave me problems so i switched to the gaskets in the link and in pic. below.. i have had no problems so far but i also installed locking bolts when i installed these gaskets...but with aftermarket headers i think you need the oval hole gasket not the felpro 1415 gasket i think that gasket is for factory headers....you can order these gaskets at any local autoparts store just give them the brand and part number and they will have them overnight in most cases.

5928.webp
 
I have some of those dead soft multi layer alum. gaskets...I have used them with good results over and over.

I have probably taken them off 3-4 times and just this last time I developed some leaking...found out later upon closer inspection there is a little pin-hole down at the header collector so I am just holding out until I get some long tubes and will get another set.