Changing Exhaust Header Gaskets
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 646
Likes: 3
From: Derbyshire, UK.
Changing Exhaust Header Gaskets
Hi,
I think that my truck doesn't have any gaskets on the heads where the OEM manifolds are fixed. I have bought some new gaskets to fit and wonder if anyone has any tips or tricks to fit them. I'm hoping they are held on with bolts (rather than studs) so I can undo them and slide the gaskets in without having to take them off totally.
Is it going to be possible?
Cheers
Simon
I think that my truck doesn't have any gaskets on the heads where the OEM manifolds are fixed. I have bought some new gaskets to fit and wonder if anyone has any tips or tricks to fit them. I'm hoping they are held on with bolts (rather than studs) so I can undo them and slide the gaskets in without having to take them off totally.
Is it going to be possible?
Cheers
Simon
Junior User
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 54
Likes: 0
From: Fort Worth, Tx
Yep theyre held on with bolts, however you still have to take them off to get the gasket in there, unless youre using some sorta gasket I've never seen before. Yeah its not that hard though, just make sure you dont get any of the bolts switched around.
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
stock manifolds arent supposed to have gaskets on them. if you have an exhaust leak were the manifold meets the head then you either have warped manifolds or cracked ones . might first try new manifold bolts tightend to spec and see if the leak goes away
Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 646
Likes: 3
From: Derbyshire, UK.
yeah headers are on my list - but if I did I would want to change the whole system and thats a lot of money. Also I don't want to risk getting headers now that won't work with my exisiting system or a new system. It looks like my exisiting system has been butchered in the past as many of the joints aroudn the cat have been welded such that the Y-pipe and all the stuff back from there are one piece. I've been offered a full stainless steel custom system in the UK for about £300-£400 (lifetime waranty) but that doesn't include the headers (what, about $180 + shipping). Don't need a cat for legal reasons in the UK other than for enviromental reasons and since my Thermactor pipe has come off at the cat it probably isn't doing much in side the cat. If it wasn't welded I'd have knocked the centre out of the CAT to remove some restrictions.
Feeling poor at the moment having had to pay £500 to get the torque convertor changed.
Simon
Feeling poor at the moment having had to pay £500 to get the torque convertor changed.
Simon
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Thread Starter
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Elder User
Joined: Aug 2004
Posts: 646
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From: Derbyshire, UK.
I think its leaking - I could see some soot around one of the outlets and just assumed there would be a gasket there as I didn't see that two rough cast surface would be gas tight. Some of the bolts were a bit loose so I have tightened them up I still can hear a leak somewhere. it might be else where but its hard to tell with the noise of the motor. For the cost of £10 I thought it was worth changing the gasket as a matter of course. Obviously I may be barking up the wrong tree.
Simon
Simon
Hotshot
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14,285
Likes: 12
From: Bend,OR
i would skip the gasket. buy new exhaust bolts because whats on there are probably stretched and shot. retorque the bolts starting from the middle working in a cross pattern out to the ends. also check were the Y pipe bolts to the manifold for leak an tighten if need be.