Header Gaskets?? Your experiences??

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Jan 13, 2016 | 11:32 AM

#16

4x4pwr

Elder User

Joined: Aug 2014

Posts: 560

Likes: 4

From: Anchorage, Alaska

Never had issues with felpro gaskets.

Jan 15, 2016 | 01:50 PM

#17

SDSC4X4

Thread Starter

More Turbo

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 565

Likes: 33

From: Newcastle & Gillette WY

Three things:

OOPS! I installed the Power Pack in the June of 2009. NOT eight or ten years ago like I previously posted. I suffer from the occasional bout of CRS as I descend into my dotage! 100,000 miles on the installation is correct.

I emailed Banks Engineering and they are sending out a replacement gasket and collector donut! Lifetime warranty on the kit apparently includes the gaskets. So, I'm even more satisfied! Not sure I need the donut but wanted it on hand if I do. It is not leaking that I can tell. The price certainly is right. I'll keep you posted, but I will need a weekend after the parts get here.

Summit Racing told me they have very few returns on the Doug Thorley graphite coated steel core header gaskets, if anyone else is looking.

Jan 23, 2016 | 11:01 PM

#18

SDSC4X4

Thread Starter

More Turbo

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 565

Likes: 33

From: Newcastle & Gillette WY

I got the parts yesterday and went to work today. Gasket looks like it is graphite with a metallic surface on each side.

I found two places on the old gasket where there had been blow by. The two bolts you cannot get to without removing the inner fender were a bit loose, also.

I installed the new gasket and managed to get all the header bolts back in place and only skinned one knuckle. I still have to torque them as I didn't have the spec's with me. So, hopefully tomorrow I'll have it wrapped up.

Jan 24, 2016 | 03:10 AM

#19

darkjedi351

Tuned

Joined: Sep 2014

Posts: 368

Likes: 0

From: Ventura, Ca

Quote:

Originally Posted by SDSC4X4

I like hearing that about the banks lifetime warranty.
my banks headers have less than 3k on them and I've already rechecked the torque twice, old habits die hard. or maybe it's ocd

Jan 24, 2016 | 09:03 AM

#20

SDSC4X4

Thread Starter

More Turbo

Joined: Dec 2012

Posts: 565

Likes: 33

From: Newcastle & Gillette WY

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkjedi351

I like hearing that about the banks lifetime warranty.
my banks headers have less than 3k on them and I've already rechecked the torque twice, old habits die hard. or maybe it's ocd

I was pleasantly surprised by Banks' response! The gaskets were shipped before they answered the email! Two subsequent questions were responded to immediately as well!

Rechecking the torque: "Coulda, shoulda, woulda" on my part. The instructions did not suggest checking the torque and there was NO leakage for about 5 years. Even though I'm am getting old and lazy, guess what I'll be doing after a couple of heating/cooling cycles! and then again next summer!

That said, those lower bolts on the right side are a BEAR!

Jan 25, 2016 | 09:57 AM

#21

89LX306

Fleet Mechanic

Joined: Jul 2003

Posts: 1,815

Likes: 24

From: Houston

FWIW, a lot of turbo guys in the Mustang world swear by just using Copper RTV instead of gaskets. Sounds crazy, but I am going to try it on my turbo Mustang and see how it works.

Jan 25, 2016 | 03:45 PM

#22

mjmck

Senior User

Joined: Oct 2015

Posts: 167

Likes: 0

From: Manlius, NY

My dad put Rem-Flex on his 72 455, they are made to crush to fill in all the little imperfections. Highly recommend them, my brother also used them on his 86 turbo-ed fox.

Jan 25, 2016 | 03:46 PM

#23

mjmck

Senior User

Joined: Oct 2015

Posts: 167

Likes: 0

From: Manlius, NY

Quote:

Originally Posted by 89LX306

FWIW, a lot of turbo guys in the Mustang world swear by just using Copper RTV instead of gaskets. Sounds crazy, but I am going to try it on my turbo Mustang and see how it works.

Last time I did my headers on my fox i just used high temp RTV. Let it tack up a little before install, worked awesome, no leaks.