Header Leaks just won't stop!
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Freshman User
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 44
Likes: 0
From: Belgrade
Header Leaks just won't stop!
Hello!
I am fed up with the headers I have on my truck! I rebuilt the engine over christmas break ( 1989 F-150 4x4 short box 302 manual T-18), and I bought some pacemaker headers from Summitt racing. They were cheap ($160.00), so I guess I got what I paid for, but I was hoping that they would at least seal a little bit, they have a 3/8" flange on them...but they're leaking like crazy. I worry about heating up cylinders and warping valves and such, but I'm not sure if the leaking will actually cause problems or not.
Does anybody know of some good bolts I could buy for this setup so that the headers will finally seal up? I was looking on summitt and they have some pretty good bolts from ARP, but I'm not sure if they're really worth it or not. I also bought some aluminum gaskets and put them on, but I guess I can't seem to get the bolts on the headers tight enough because I can't fit a box end wrench around the head of the bolt because the header pipe is always in the way, so I just wind up stripping the bolts all up.
I wanted to buy some hooker headers, but those are just out of my price range, and I just spent about $3,500 bucks building this engine!
...The engine's got lots of power though!
Thanks
-=| Scott |=-
I am fed up with the headers I have on my truck! I rebuilt the engine over christmas break ( 1989 F-150 4x4 short box 302 manual T-18), and I bought some pacemaker headers from Summitt racing. They were cheap ($160.00), so I guess I got what I paid for, but I was hoping that they would at least seal a little bit, they have a 3/8" flange on them...but they're leaking like crazy. I worry about heating up cylinders and warping valves and such, but I'm not sure if the leaking will actually cause problems or not.
Does anybody know of some good bolts I could buy for this setup so that the headers will finally seal up? I was looking on summitt and they have some pretty good bolts from ARP, but I'm not sure if they're really worth it or not. I also bought some aluminum gaskets and put them on, but I guess I can't seem to get the bolts on the headers tight enough because I can't fit a box end wrench around the head of the bolt because the header pipe is always in the way, so I just wind up stripping the bolts all up.
I wanted to buy some hooker headers, but those are just out of my price range, and I just spent about $3,500 bucks building this engine!
...The engine's got lots of power though!
Thanks
-=| Scott |=-
Super Moderator
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 8,547
Likes: 6
From: MA
Sounds like the flange is warped (as you have found out, Pacesetter products suck). If thats the case, there is nothing you can do save having the flange ground true. Best thing I can say is to try those ARPs, as well as those metal gaskets you mentioned.
Rich
Rich
Postmaster
Joined: Jan 2004
Posts: 3,207
Likes: 0
From: Kearney, Nebr
Make sure that you header bolts are tight. Are you sure that is leaking at the head and not the flanges. When I put my shorties on my 302w, I had to move my header pipes out to match the headers. Plus, the gaskets that come with the cheap product are usually crap anyways. I've heard if you soak them in water over night it makes a better seal. Haven't tried that but it might work.
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90' F150 xlt 4x4 302 4-speed w/ 4.10 rear
Headers/true duals 2.25" w/ 28" glasspacks coming out at 45's
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90' F150 xlt 4x4 302 4-speed w/ 4.10 rear
Headers/true duals 2.25" w/ 28" glasspacks coming out at 45's
