Hi All,

I decided to have my shorty headers installed on my 1988 F250 - 302 ..$275 later.. 4 hours labor. These headers fit up to the existing exhaust system and you don't need a gasket. They did a great job getting these on however, the right header flange (passenger side) that hooks up to the Y pipe is not sealed correctly and has a slight popping noise and it irritates the heck out of me .. I need to seal this.

Don't get me wrong, what a difference with these header on.. Both of the old manifolds were cracked.. These headers are awesome.

The shop said to I should replace the Y pipe this way they can bend and seat correctly.. He recommended bringing it to a muffler shop. NO WAY..

I just spent $525 for the headers and the labor.

The Y-pipe looks in perfect condition.


My question: Is there anyway I can fix this leak by maybe putting in a gasket? The Shorty flowtech headers according to the manufacture says you don't need a gasket and they just bolt on. What can I do to????? Any help would be great.
Help...
Thanks..

Runner

 

Just went thru the same thing on my 92 F-150, 5.8, 4x4. Rebuilt the engine. Put on Flowtech shorties. Y-pipe would not seal at all. I took it a muffler shop and it took him about 2 1/2 hours to fix it. $50 an hour. He basically cut the old flanges off and trimmed back about 3 inches of pipes on each side. Then made new flanges and welded them back on at the correct angle. Believe me, it was way worth $125 for me to not have to jack with it for a whole day or more. My advice let the experts handle it.

Also got a Flowmaster American Thunder 3" cat-back with dual rear exit installed while I was at it.

fix leaking y-pipe : $125
cat-back system : $410

Total: $535

Having a nice sounding truck without busted knuckles to prove it: PRICELESS!

 

4 hours to install shorty headers? I'll do it and only bill you 3.5, how's that?

I'd take it to the exhaust shop. They should be able to fix it in short order for you. They're like artists with steel pipe.

 

You have to admit bigric, for some of the problems that are encountered with header install that paying for four hours might seem easy compared to the headaches many have experienced!

 

i got that problem, but guy who had it before me was moron when it came to putting stuff together, so i have a big gap on the passenger side just screaming fix me when i start it up. i got a wrench on it, its rusted to bad to move. gonna have to torch it and re bolt it up.
im' takeing it to muffler shop to do it too. so crowded in there for me.
He will fix it and fix my exhaust easly, and not charge me much either.