ok i have had the 96 f250 for over a year and have had nothing but problems with the hooker headers that were put on the truck before i bought it.now i tried replacing the the gasket on the passenger side and it still didn't fix the leak i believe that the header is warped and i can't get the header to line the right way for it to be properly sealed.the driver side also has a started to have a leak too.I am looking to fix this problem asap becuase i can smell exhaust inside my truck and i have kids and i don't want them breath that in lol.so i just want to fix it the right way and not have to keep replacing exhaust manifold or gaskets anytime soon.so please help figure out the best way to go to make this a permanent fix. thanks in advance.

 

Welcome to the world of headers...jk. You could take it off and have a machinist check its squareness and have it machined flat, or just double up gaskets. I need to run two on my 69 torino with hedman headers.

 

yeasome at my work said the same thing about doubling up the gaskets.but my main problem is the air pump tube is not going to come off and i really don't want to cut it and have emissions problems not that i don't have them now lol.so what if i didn't take the headers off and i threw in 2 new gaskets on both side would that be a waste of time?

 

Unbolt the headers and take a small straight edge and check the ports on the headers. If they are square, go with a set of copper header gaskets with a light coat of red hi-temp sealant on the gasket, and when re-installing them, slowly work the bolts down in stages, starting from the middle and working your way out, so you draw the flanges down evenly. SEC has some .062thick ones here Exhaust Manifold Gaskets for Ford 460 that should do the trick for you. I've run copper gaskets on my 460 for years and have no header leaks at all.

 

Check to make sure the headers are not hitting the fame or anything , they need atleast 1/2 inch of clearence , if they are hitting they will never seal , if they are just grind a little off the frame , i did this on my 95 with a 302...Lew

 

unbolt as in taking them off and out of the truck?if yes then i really will some problems because of my air pump tubes are siezed and there not coming apart

 

Unbolt as in unbolt them from the head. You should be able to reach in with a small machinists straight edge and check them in the truck.

 

ok i will try to do that also my f 250 has a 351w not a 460 so which of those gasket would best for the 351w?thanks for your help guys so far

 

Stock - Copper - 5.8L/351 - 1996 - FORD - SummitRacing.com

 

thanks L.Ward i'm very greatfull for your help

 

If it was mine, I would ditch the headers and put manifolds back on.

I like Percy's Seal 4 Good gaskets. Thats what I have on my 65 Mustang with JBA headers.

 

i have been thinking about that option and i am not tring to be a cheap *** about this i want to fix the problem the right way and not have to worry about it anymore.this is my d/d and i need to get to work during the week and to go out on my atv on the weekends.hahaha so if i were to go with the stock manifolds wouldn't need to get the stock bolts and studs for too?

 

Yes, you would need the stock bolts and studs. Try looking at NPD, LMC, Bronco Graveyard, or even Ebay. Another option would be the HELP section at Orielly or Advance. Ask them to look in the Dorman catalog. I got some bolts from them for my manifolds. You might be able to get them from the Ford dealer, but I bet that wouldn't be very cost effective.

 

i have looked on broncograveyard for the stock manifolds and bolts and stuff and it seems to be more then if i went and bought some shorty headers from summit.but i'm not tring to take the cheap route i want to fix the problem the right way so if the stock manifolds is the best way to fix this problem then that is what i will do. i know this next question is way off teh topic of this thread but i have a question about doing a transmission swap to my truck.i have searched for a while on here and have not found any good answers of weather is possiable to swap out a c6 and put in a overdrive transmission i really would like to know if thats is do able i have 96 xl f250 4x4 with a 351w and my transmission is a c6.any answer on that would be great thanks

 

You might be able to get some stock manifolds from Ebay or a salvage yard.

You can swap out the C6 for an OD transmission. Alot of guys have done that.