Header Gaskets?

bcollie67 · Jul 22, 2008

Putting some new Headers on my 1967 Fastback. Car has a 390 and I bought some ceramic coated Hooker long tubes.

What are the best header gaskets that you guys have found that work well? Or would it just be ok to use the ones that Hooker sent me with the headers?

D.Hearne · Jul 22, 2008

Good luck with Hookers in a big block. Been there-done that. It wasn't fun. As for header gaskets-----Percy's dead soft aluminum. Or any other copper/aluminum that you can find to fit. The last thing you want to have to do is deal with leaks in a big block mustang. With Hookers, it took three hours just to bolt the headers up and get all the bolts you could get tight. There are some that you'll never get in place. If you have the GT390 heads, I highly recommend you have the lower center holes drilled and tapped for the middle two ports--ala the 428CJ heads.

bcollie67 · Jul 23, 2008

Yeah I know it's gonna be a pain in the butt. Did you have to pull the motor to get yours on? I am planning on rebuilding the tranny at the same time so I was thinking I would just pull the motor up until the point where I can bolt them on and then lower it back in. I just hope they fit!

Anyways, I searched for the percy gasket but can't seem to find a dealer that sells the aluminum ones for that motor. Do you know of a good place that carries them? I want to make sure and use a good gasket and stage 8 locking header bolts so hopefully once they are on I won't have any problems with them in the future.

D.Hearne · Jul 23, 2008

Never could bolt the Hookers on with the engine lifted. I had the engine out when I bought em, then had to set them in place and lower the engine on top of em. A better choice in header would have been FPA tri-y's

bcollie67 · Jul 24, 2008

Well damn! Wish I would have known this beforehand.

Where did you purchase your Percy gaskets?

Rusty67 · Jul 24, 2008

Stage 8 fasteners are BS. I used them on my car and they came loose anyways. And yes I put them in properly.

bcollie67 · Jul 24, 2008

Rusty67 said:
Stage 8 fasteners are BS. I used them on my car and they came loose anyways. And yes I put them in properly.

I have never used them so I don't know.

Do you suggest something better?

jadesville · Jul 24, 2008

I like Percy's and SCE header gaskets, I use SCE myself. I also use a combination of locking stage 8 header retainers and studs. I gave up on the regular stage 8 bolts and hooker/felpro headers after I would develop leaks after a couple track runs. I think Summit sells some generic locking header bolts for like $45, or you could try studs which a bit more, and you'll probably have to grind those for some clearance, but the benefit of those is it takes a lot less time aligning the headers up to install them.

Rusty67 · Jul 24, 2008

Torque them from the center of the header out. Also, if you want absolute assurance they wont come loose, saftey wire them.

bcollie67 · Jul 25, 2008

Who carries SCE gaskets??

ron67fb · Jul 25, 2008

I'd use these:
Earl's Performance 29D04AERL - Earl's Performance Pressure Master Header Seals - summitracing.com

Installed them over 8 years ago on my 289 using the Stage 8 bolts but without those stupid locking clips that never fit right anyway. No leaks and I haven't re-tightened them since the day they were installed.

mdjay · Jul 25, 2008

We found Remflex a couple years back at SEMA. Haven't used anything else since.

Bullitt · Jul 25, 2008

+1 for the Earl's Performance set. I've used those for both collectors and the header flange. They work great.

D.Hearne · Jul 27, 2008

bcollie67 said:
Well damn! Wish I would have known this beforehand.

Where did you purchase your Percy gaskets?

Back when I had mine, FPA's weren't around. I have since bought and used a pair on a 68 Merc 390 in a Monterey. Top notch pieces. I've heard the Stang big block Tri-Y's they have are top end as well. Easier to deal with in these cars too. I use Percy's gaskets on my 331 stroker. On th ebig block Stang I only had the choice of Hookers gaskets. They left a lot to be desired, along with the headers.

Header Gaskets?

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