For those of you who have installed Banks headers on your 7.5L engines; have you used gaskets? The instructions state that since the flanges are 5/8" thick and machined flat; that gaskets are not needed, unless the mating surface on your heads are rough or distorted.

The instructions also state that the spark plug heat shields are not necessary, either. Every piece of the kit is top shelf. I sat out in my garage lastnight with a beer and just looked at the pile of piping.

 

I put a very small bead of high temp copper permatex around each port. It will never leak. I do this on all my headers.

 

I've never heard of a Banks headers leaking, but that would depend if your heads are nice and flat.

 

I look at it this way. BANKS tells you NOT to use a gasket and NOT to use the heat shields. So why WOULD YOU?

 

Exactly. And speaking as the Thorley's that came on my truck still have the passenger side rear gasket leak, when the cash is there, Banks go in.

 

Point taken; guys, I sort of asked a question I already knew the answer to. I appreciate your guys' feedback. Going to start on getting the old system out this weekend; have a 3" x 3' section of exhaust tubing coming to make a mid pipe and will fab in an air tube fitting.

Have a good holiday weekend, everyone👍

 

Well; I have all the exhaust piping off up to the manifolds, air cleaner & spark plugs out, and every fastener soaked with PB Blaster.