header gasket delete
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 117
From: starship enterprise
header gasket delete
I pulled my L&L headers off and put orange Hi temp silicon instead of gaskets and so far so good, seems to work if anyone else has header gasket problems might be worth a try.
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 636
Likes: 5
From: down a red dirt road
many vehicles dont even use exhaust manifold gaskets, and you dont really need to if your heads are fresh and everything is square. if your having problems continuously the headers are probably warped.
Ive used RTV quite often. ive even taken two gaskets with 1/4 of rtv in between lol.
i stuck my headers in a vise, sprayed some chevy orange across the gasket surfaces, scraped over the wet paint with a square, ground down the high spots, clean off paint with acetone, 'rinse lather and repeat' like 20 times and perfectly machine shop straight! took a lot of patience using a tiger disc on a grinder and a dremel
Ive used RTV quite often. ive even taken two gaskets with 1/4 of rtv in between lol.
i stuck my headers in a vise, sprayed some chevy orange across the gasket surfaces, scraped over the wet paint with a square, ground down the high spots, clean off paint with acetone, 'rinse lather and repeat' like 20 times and perfectly machine shop straight! took a lot of patience using a tiger disc on a grinder and a dremel
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 117
From: starship enterprise
That is a good idea, did you have luck with the stacked gaskets? I thought that sounded good then I had second thoughts, like that maybe the extrs thickness might blow out easier.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 3
there are a few companys that makes either copper or aluminum gaskets i have used both and they work great for these problems an old school mechanics trick also is to heat the headers up [1 pipe at a time,all bolts tight red hot] they will then bend and conform to the head if they are warped
More Turbo
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 636
Likes: 5
From: down a red dirt road
no, i was using factory gaskets, i just let the rtv fully set up in between it never blew out, i was still having the same problem ended up i had a big bump on a surface i evidently couldnt get to lol, it was just blowing around a thinner wall
Post Fiend
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 8,261
Likes: 15
From: Big Sky Country
X2, i use Percy's "Dead Soft" aluminum header gaskets, leak-free going on a decade now.
Posting Guru
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,069
Likes: 3
yes x2 for sure i just couldnt remember the brand name but now i need to order some any ways i got into a project yesterday i real shouldnt have thought i would take a shot at changing the exaust gaskets on my s/c with a rebuilt 460 [po] i used an air chilsel to break all the d/s bolts free came out like butter p/s ended up breaking 4 bolts flush with the head upon getting the other 4 out i seen what some one had done there must of being 2 people working on that truck at i time the s.o.b used lock tight now i have to pull the engine to get the head off,drill out the bolts and finalt replace the gaskets
Trending Topics
Thread Starter
|
Cargo Master
Joined: Nov 2009
Posts: 2,364
Likes: 117
From: starship enterprise
MIne are still leak free, I keep tightening the bolts everytime I drive it for a few more times, I keep getteing 1/8 turn out of a few of the bolts, I don't know if they are backing off or just smashing down on the rtv still, but I hope it lasts. Thanks for the idea.
FTE Stories
Ford Trucks for Ford Truck Enthusiasts
AEV FXL Super Duty - the Super Duty Raptor Ford Doesn't Make
Brett Foote
Lobo Vs Lobo: Proof the F-150 Lobo Should Be Even Lower!
Michael S. Palmer
Ford's 2001 Explorer Sportsman Concept Looks For a New Home
Verdad Gallardo
10 Best Ford Truck Engines We Miss the Most!
Joe Kucinski
2026 Shelby F-150 Off-Road: Better Than a Raptor R?
Brett Foote
2027 Super Duty Carhartt Package First Look: 12 Things You NEED to Know!
Michael S. Palmer
10 Most Surprising 2026 Ford Truck Features!
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 Ford Trucks Coming to Mecum Indy 2026
Brett Foote
5 Best / 5 Worst Ford Truck Wheels of All Time
Joe Kucinski
Laughing Gas
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 968
Likes: 5
From: Corbett, Oregon
When I installed L&L headers on my '78 F-250 / 4x4/ 460 in '97 I used the gaskets supplied with them. Nearly 16 years and 65,000 miles later still no leaks or other sealing issues.
Roger Carter
Roger Carter
Cargo Master
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,587
Likes: 47
From: Eagle River, AK
Header Hardware And Header Bolts
Lead Driver
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 8,922
Likes: 152
Should be able to find bolts as long as you need at the site below:
Header Hardware And Header Bolts
Header Hardware And Header Bolts
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
windevil pete
1973 - 1979 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
11
Dec 3, 2007 08:58 AM
HogTied
Big Block V8 - 385 Series (6.1/370, 7.0/429, 7.5/460)
4
Jul 3, 2005 11:30 AM
ceetwarrior
1967 - 1972 F-100 & Larger F-Series Trucks
20
Dec 21, 2003 01:44 AM