Header gaskets

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Sep 23, 2004 | 11:10 PM

imlowr2

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From: Santa Clarita

Header gaskets

With so many brands and styles to choose from, I was wondering from you pros, what is a good header gasket to use? and collector gasket to avoid leaks. Got a set of headers and want to put them on this weekend. Any recommendations on what kind of header bolts to use? 12 point? stainless hex?

Sep 23, 2004 | 11:32 PM

DS02F250

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From: Ventura County, CA

Are the heads cast iron or aluminum? Either way I personally would try to avoid the 12's... tendancy to strip too easily.

My $.02

Sep 23, 2004 | 11:38 PM

imlowr2

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From: Santa Clarita

Hey DS59 good hearing from you again. I'm running cast iron early 289 heads. The headers I got are Ford Racing products block hugger style headers. They are ceramic coated and have pretty thick flanges on them. Am planning on going to the parts store tomorrow and get gaskets, just need to know which to get. I also need the collector gasket and header bolts. Then it goes to the muffler shop on Saturday, (after a few passes by the local police station LOL)

Sep 23, 2004 | 11:50 PM

DS02F250

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I have the ceramic coated block huggers, too. As with practically everything else in the aftermarket world, there's 8 million schools of thought about the pro's and con's of yes, even gaskets! I went to NAPA and asked about copper vs. cork vs. ??? Probably best if you do the same, but make sure you do it at a knowledgable source. I went with the NAPA brand and a good tube of gasket sealer. No problems and still looking fresh!

DS

Sep 24, 2004 | 02:30 AM

halfdone

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From: Queanbeyan Australia

Block huggers - Gaskets

With block huggers with a reasonable flange thickness I normally split (cut) the flange between the ports so the pipes can move independently, file them so they are dead flat and then run them with no gaskets

Sounds weird......but I have always found they seal better that way.

The "file them" step is critical......it's the welds holding them away from the head that cause them to leak....which is why people put a gasket in to take up the gap.

Of course if they are already ceramic coated.........???

My A$.03 worth (Exchange rate. Australian dollar is worth much)

Sep 24, 2004 | 10:02 AM

cwpowell

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I have a set of Sanderson headers on my 302 and did not use any kind of gaskets. I used a tube of the black Permatex type gasket former to run a bead around each port of the header and then bolted them on, without any leaks. I did use copper gaskets for the collectors.

Sep 24, 2004 | 10:44 AM

imlowr2

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From: Santa Clarita

I've seen a few people not using gaskets? I know with the stock manifolds I don't use the gaskets nor do I put gasket sealer on, and it seals great. I'm curious if it's better to use gaskets? or not? any suggestions? I also heard to run the engine for about 20 minutes and retighten the header bolts? That eliminates leaks also? Thanks for the ideas.