I keep blowing gaskets. HELP!

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Feb 14, 2004 | 09:30 AM

ddzmann68

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From: Mechanicsburg, PA

I keep blowing gaskets. HELP!

Hey , does anyone have Clifford headers on their 300 six. I put them on my 90' EFI six and I keep blowing the gaskets at the collecter. I called Clifford and they said that the gaskets that come with the headers are extra thick and it should not happen. He said that my exhaust system is hung wrong and is putting to stress where the y pipe meets the collecters. I had the system installed at a muffler shop( this is the only part of this truck I did not work on myself). Is this possable and how would you know if this is the problem? Is there a way to measure or check the flanges to see if they are fitting wright? Any help, I have replaced both gaskets and w only a 1000 milse on this system it's leaking again.

Feb 14, 2004 | 05:11 PM

bob arrington

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From: alaska

having worked in a muffler shop for many years , i am in complete agreement with clifford,. you need to take it back to the shop and have them line up your flanges. it could be as simple as heating the pipe on the car side ,'as opposed to the header side', cherry red and letting it line it self up, or cutting the flange off , bolting it to the header and welding it back up.. something else that you need os a bracket from the header to someplace on the engine to make the header and engine move and vibrate as one unit. that will help keep the header manifold and flange gaskets from loosening and leaking again,good luck,bob

Feb 16, 2004 | 07:52 PM

ddzmann68

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From: Mechanicsburg, PA

Thanks for the input , I'm going to tkae it back to the shop that installed it. I have an extra set of flanges and bolts all I am waiting for is the new gaskets to come fr Clifford.

DZ

Feb 16, 2004 | 10:31 PM

bob arrington

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From: alaska

once those flanges are lined up any header gasket will work,but the thicker ones are nice ,good luck,bob

Feb 17, 2004 | 06:33 PM

V10man

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From: Mesa

Remember, the header should not support the exhaust system. If you unbolt the exhasut, it should hang free and be lined up with the collector.

Feb 17, 2004 | 08:33 PM

bob arrington

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From: alaska

Quote:

Originally posted by V10man
Remember, the header should not support the exhaust system. If you unbolt the exhasut, it should hang free and be lined up with the collector.

excellent,respectfully,bob

Feb 21, 2004 | 05:29 PM

ddzmann68

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From: Mechanicsburg, PA

Hey, I finely got my truck to the muffler shop that did my exhaust. the problem was with flange and the small pipe that gets welded to the Y pipe didn't meet flush. Why they did not check this before it was installed I have no idea, but since it was under warrenty they repaired it and installed a set of aluminum gaskets that were the same thickness as the paper ones for free. I never saw solid aluminum gaskets before, are these better?
It sounds great and I can hear the stereo now.