I've got a set of Banks RV headers for my 94 F53 w/460 efi. Question for the community; gaskets or no gaskets?

Banks \"torque tube"

5/8\" thick flange

 

I'll jump in and say gaskets yes.

I have a set of billet copper gaskets for the 69 Lincoln at the shop now. I'm going to take a guess - my header flange isn't 1/2" - I'll measure tomorrow and update.
Maybe ARP hardware.

I've used them on small block mopars with good results.

 

You dont need gaskets unless your head's exhaust flange has pitting or rust. I didnt use gaskets and I bought ARP header studs and they wouldn't work with my Banks headers. There were at least 3 that wouldn't fit because of the bend from the flange being so close I couldn't even think about getting a nut on. The Banks hardware that it came with was 12 point 3/8" and worked great. I used copper anti-seize and torqued them to the recommended spec. I checked them again after 1,000 miles and they were all still torqued the same. I have close to 40k miles on the headers and they have never needed tightening.



This is what the finish looks like after 2 years and 40k miles in snow but no salt.

 

So one vote for and one vote against, but either way has got to be better than the factory manifolds. I don't mean this entirely from a performance standpoint; these manifolds will not stay tight. From what I've read these engines have a history of warping their manifolds. It's a real failure in design, and a shame, because the 460 BB has awesome potential. The headers are going in, we all agree that's a good thing, but what about gaskets...

 

No gaskets, just a little bit of high temp RTV bolts will stay tight and the headers won't leak. Those are nice headers too.

 

I like the flanges on those headers pictured, who is a good source for headers for ford trucks .would headers from a 4x4 manual transmission pickup with a BBF be a good place to start ,for finding headers for my L900 ? if I use the front engine mount method ,I think almost any header would fit ,but if I build side mount brackets for a engine swap I might have tighter fitment .

 

Is it carb or EFI. The exhaust ports changed on the EFI engines around 87 or 88 in the pickups.

 

The headers are from Banks Power Systems, TorqueTubes. They're stainless steel and the welds are excellent. These particular headers where designed for RV use, specificly the Ford F53 chassis. Flanges are 5/8".
I think the BB Ford has a lot of potential, but out of the factory it only has one lung. But 460 CI! That's a lot of air and fuel if we can move through the engine just a little more efficiently.
I used to own a sailboat, that I spent a lot of money on. Then I bought a Corvette that I hot rodded. Now I'm spending a lot of money hot rodding an RV.