Sealing Headers from leaking
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Junior User
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 77
Likes: 0
From: Oceanside USA
Sealing Headers from leaking
I have a 70 F250 Camper Special XLT ranger w/ a 360. The problem I keep having is exhaust leaks at the manifolds. The only way I can get them to seal is by using lots of high temp silicon and that only lasts about a year. I recently had an intake manifold gasket go bad and I took the manifolds off, thought I had a bad head gasket, and now they are already leaking. I am thinking the manifolds are warped so I would like to get headers, are they hard to seal? My 74 Bronco has them and I have only had to do them once in 10 years. It seems like the logical way to go, however this site seems to have a lot anti header people.
Lead Driver
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 6,175
Likes: 21
From: Texas
Sealing Headers from leaking
Headers on FE engines can be hard to seal. I reccomend paying the difference and getting a quality header. Mine were not exactly cheap and I still have bad leaks. Copper gaskets are also reccomended. I have yet to try them, but will for sure if I ever upgrade my heads.
Cargo Master
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 2,931
Likes: 12
From: SW Michigan
Sealing Headers from leaking
Copper gaskets go a long way toward solving the problem with exhaust headers on an FE. Run some nice Sanderson or Stans headers and they won't cause you any problems. Don't even think about about trying cheap headers on an FE, you will only succeed in causing yourself lots of frustrations. DF
Cargo Master
Joined: Jul 2000
Posts: 2,281
Likes: 18
From: Northern California
Sealing Headers from leaking
The real problem with FE headers are that most aren't made right. I have two trucks with FE's and they both have headers and BOTH leaked (different brands)
On the newer truck I took the headers and matched them to the exhaust ports. I had to round out the bolt hole in the header so that I could raise each header about 1/8" then one had to be moved about 1/16" forward in order to get a proper match.
I then used regular gaskets and have NO problems. Even removed and replaced them several times and still NO leaks.
The point is that the ports have to match! If they don't match properly your just fighting a bad battle.
Different FE heads have different port locations and that maybe part of the problem or maybe some of the header makers just don't care about it.
On the newer truck I took the headers and matched them to the exhaust ports. I had to round out the bolt hole in the header so that I could raise each header about 1/8" then one had to be moved about 1/16" forward in order to get a proper match.
I then used regular gaskets and have NO problems. Even removed and replaced them several times and still NO leaks.
The point is that the ports have to match! If they don't match properly your just fighting a bad battle.
Different FE heads have different port locations and that maybe part of the problem or maybe some of the header makers just don't care about it.
New User
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Huntington Beach,CA
Sealing Headers from leaking
Dave,
I've had the same problems with the stock manifolds, I've had two 67 camper specials and my dad has one since new, all have had problems with leakage. I'm in the process of installing some hedmans and and have been told to use copper gaskets and some locking header bolts. Summitracing.com has some stage 8 bolts that have some clips that lock against the header tubes so that once they're torqued they don't back off. About $42.00 for FE.I've been told this is the way to go, waiting for my header bolts now.
Mike
I've had the same problems with the stock manifolds, I've had two 67 camper specials and my dad has one since new, all have had problems with leakage. I'm in the process of installing some hedmans and and have been told to use copper gaskets and some locking header bolts. Summitracing.com has some stage 8 bolts that have some clips that lock against the header tubes so that once they're torqued they don't back off. About $42.00 for FE.I've been told this is the way to go, waiting for my header bolts now.
Mike
More Turbo
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 721
Likes: 1
From: Floyd, Va
Sealing Headers from leaking
Ive ran headders on my 390 for 10 years. The first were headmans and they never leaked. Although i agree that some prep work is needed to ensure a proper fit. Also i agree that a good set of gaskets is needed. I havent used a set of copper ones yet. When i converted it to a 4x4 i bought a cheap set of flow techs. They didnt fit that well before i modified them, but after matching headders to gaskets, and gaskets to heads, everything worked fine. They have been on for 5 years with no leaks. I will stress once again, that preparation makes the difference between liking and hating headders.
Tony Warren
Nebraska
Tony Warren
Nebraska
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Senior User
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 309
Likes: 0
Sealing Headers from leaking
I have Hedman's on mine and they leaked since i bought them. The only way I ever got them to seal was by doubling up on gaskets and using tons of high temp goo. Then when i rebuilt the motor and dropped it back in, I had the headers shaved, or resurfaced, and that helped but it still leaked and had to use silicon. I even drilled out 4 more bolt holes for the new heads, so now it is bolted in by 12 bolts, an I still have to use silicon. I need to get some new copper gaskets and start over. I have also noticed that it's a good idea to keep tabs on the tightness of the bolts because at least with mine, they like to get loose.
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Senior User
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 306
Likes: 1
From: Hollister, CA
Sealing Headers from leaking
>I have Hedman's on mine and they leaked since i bought them.
>The only way I ever got them to seal was by doubling up on
>gaskets and using tons of high temp goo. Then when i rebuilt
>the motor and dropped it back in, I had the headers shaved,
>or resurfaced, and that helped but it still leaked and had
>to use silicon. I even drilled out 4 more bolt holes for the
>new heads, so now it is bolted in by 12 bolts, an I still
>have to use silicon. I need to get some new copper gaskets
>and start over. I have also noticed that it's a good idea to
>keep tabs on the tightness of the bolts because at least
>with mine, they like to get loose.
If you have CJ heads, they may not mate up to the truck headers and this may be your problem. There is a 1/4" difference in exhaust port locations. My Hooker headers will not fit my edelbrock heads because of this. Once my monetary situation improves, I'll be replacing them with FPA headers because of this. You may be able to groove the bolt holes to move the header and get the correct alignment.
Reggie
>The only way I ever got them to seal was by doubling up on
>gaskets and using tons of high temp goo. Then when i rebuilt
>the motor and dropped it back in, I had the headers shaved,
>or resurfaced, and that helped but it still leaked and had
>to use silicon. I even drilled out 4 more bolt holes for the
>new heads, so now it is bolted in by 12 bolts, an I still
>have to use silicon. I need to get some new copper gaskets
>and start over. I have also noticed that it's a good idea to
>keep tabs on the tightness of the bolts because at least
>with mine, they like to get loose.
If you have CJ heads, they may not mate up to the truck headers and this may be your problem. There is a 1/4" difference in exhaust port locations. My Hooker headers will not fit my edelbrock heads because of this. Once my monetary situation improves, I'll be replacing them with FPA headers because of this. You may be able to groove the bolt holes to move the header and get the correct alignment.
Reggie
Post Fiend
Joined: Feb 2000
Posts: 5,130
Likes: 8
From: Brea CA
Sealing Headers from leaking
Reggie and Karl have a good point. There are two different exhaust port heights depending on the heads you are running, a high exit and a low exit. Your header flanges have to match the height of your ports or else you will be forever fighting leaks.
Here is a pic of the high exit exhaust ports used on all FE heads up to ’65 along with the CJ.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=7952&.jpg
And here is a pic of the low exit exhaust ports found on ’66 and later heads.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=7953&.jpg
The difference is about 1/4 inch, enough to cause leaks. A lot of the headers have the high exit ports even though they say they are for ’66 and later vehicles, slotting the bolt holes is one way of getting around this situation.
Barry
Here is a pic of the high exit exhaust ports used on all FE heads up to ’65 along with the CJ.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=7952&.jpg
And here is a pic of the low exit exhaust ports found on ’66 and later heads.
https://www.ford-trucks.com/user_gallery/sizeimage.php?&photoid=7953&.jpg
The difference is about 1/4 inch, enough to cause leaks. A lot of the headers have the high exit ports even though they say they are for ’66 and later vehicles, slotting the bolt holes is one way of getting around this situation.
Barry
Post Fiend
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 8,238
Likes: 3
From: Oregon
Sealing Headers from leaking
The bottem line is, most headers other than the high dollar ones will leak. Part of the problem is thinner flanges that warp. The recommendation of Stan's and Sandersons is a sound one. Stan's has a header for just about every Ford truck FE application and its what I run. They came with a normal paper gasket and they haven't even begun to leak in over a year. They also have a flange thats about twice as thick as a heddman or hooker. They are also the first set of headers that I don't have to keep tightening up. I keep checking them, but in that years time none of the bolts have backed off. This is a first for me with headers. Just my experiences...
Senior User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 279
Likes: 0
From: Brighton, Colorado
Sealing Headers from leaking
I have a burnt log on the passenger side. Tried many things to seal up the spot. Best thing so far was I coated a new gasket with black stove pipe cement. Did it out of frustration. That was 5 years ago. Not a leak since. Hmm?
New User
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 8
Likes: 0
From: Yuba City U.S.A.
Sealing Headers from leaking
If you want to stop your headers from leaking you need to (score) the exaust manifolf all the way arond each port and do the same to the headers. (Use an ingraver) And then buy Mr. Gasket gaskets and put lock washers on the bolts and you should be good to go. I did it about 5 years ago after the same problem and it's been fine ever since. Give it a try and Good Luck. Lou
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