better/best header gaskets
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
better/best header gaskets
Any consensus on the better/best long term or reusable header gaskets, considering both gasket fit and port hole fit.
I am running Hooker Super comp, starter slaying headers, currently with a blanket.
John
I am running Hooker Super comp, starter slaying headers, currently with a blanket.
John
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Joined: Jul 2002
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From: Long Island USA
I'd suggest RTV too - on top of whatever gasket you choose.
Weird, but what I did was use a set of 330 exhaust gaskets (included in the FE gasket kit for some reason), the ones with metal on one side, and some sort of clay on the other.
Opened up the exhaust holes just enough to match the headers, RTV'd both sides, let it skin (VERY IMPORTANT!) and installed them.
I was lucky, in that I already had the headers installed, so they were all aligned correctly and everything as I installed the gaskets. It's a real pain in the butt to do it with the headers loose and flopping around
That 330 gasket setup lasted for 15 years... When I pulled the engine out of the highboy, the RTV was still holding the headers to the heads - so much so that I needed a pry-bar to get them off...
Weird, but what I did was use a set of 330 exhaust gaskets (included in the FE gasket kit for some reason), the ones with metal on one side, and some sort of clay on the other.
Opened up the exhaust holes just enough to match the headers, RTV'd both sides, let it skin (VERY IMPORTANT!) and installed them.
I was lucky, in that I already had the headers installed, so they were all aligned correctly and everything as I installed the gaskets. It's a real pain in the butt to do it with the headers loose and flopping around
That 330 gasket setup lasted for 15 years... When I pulled the engine out of the highboy, the RTV was still holding the headers to the heads - so much so that I needed a pry-bar to get them off...
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From: Mddl A MexCans
So the set of exhaust gaskets with the aluminum on them were for a 330? My 66 had that on them so that what I used from the kit after the rebuild. Used hi temp copper gasket rtv as well. The heads were a little rough orund the flanges but not so bad that a gasket wouldnt do th trick. Thought about having them machined along with the manis but the 90.00-170.00 price tag snuffed that out... Planning to go with headers and dual whern the $$ is in hand so it would have been money pissed away really.
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From: Long Island USA
Originally Posted by Redmanbob
So the set of exhaust gaskets with the aluminum on them were for a 330?
Anyway, those are what I used, as the FE gaskets in the kit had exhaust holes so big that the header flange would fall inside of the hole. They matched the stock exhaust logs, but not the headers ... even though the headers were big enough for the FE heads' exhaust ports.
...
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Originally Posted by baddad457
Percy's Dead soft aluminum gaskets. Nuf said.
I have used reusable copper gaskets before and found the holes didn't line up correctly as they should.
John
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From: Mddl A MexCans
I still have the leftover gaskets I'll have to have a closer look at things.
Joe, many posts say about any gasket (paper-hi dollar) works fine if the prep is done and the head/headers are in decent shape to mate up well. One thing I recall that made some sense was from (Putt) I think.. using studs with nuts/washers rather than standard header bolts/washers. Seemed like this would be much easier to fart with if needed be. The studs helped hold the gasket in position as well as the header while you manage the fit, reach for another nut/tool/beer etc..
Joe, many posts say about any gasket (paper-hi dollar) works fine if the prep is done and the head/headers are in decent shape to mate up well. One thing I recall that made some sense was from (Putt) I think.. using studs with nuts/washers rather than standard header bolts/washers. Seemed like this would be much easier to fart with if needed be. The studs helped hold the gasket in position as well as the header while you manage the fit, reach for another nut/tool/beer etc..
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Joined: May 2003
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From: south louisiana
Originally Posted by jowilker
No not aNuf said, I have never heard of them.
I have used reusable copper gaskets before and found the holes didn't line up correctly as they should.
John
I have used reusable copper gaskets before and found the holes didn't line up correctly as they should.
John
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Joined: May 2003
Posts: 11,141
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From: south louisiana
Originally Posted by jowilker
Can I nudge this back to the original question?
thanks
John
thanks
John
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From: Colville, Washington
John, my recommendation is for Victor Nitro-Seal exhaust gaskets, available from NAPA, CarQuest and likely others as well. If you slot the two end holes of the gasket on the bottom, you can start those bolts and then slip the gasket in place, install the remaining bolts and tighten them all up. Redmanbob, I don't think I suggested that use of studs, but I'm glad somebody knows I am here!!!
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Fleet Owner
Joined: Jun 1999
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From: Creedmoor, North Carolina
Originally Posted by baddad457
Well it seems you obviously didn't notice we WERE trying to answer your original question. Sorry we let you down. Maybe you need to do more here an do the research we did.
"Any consensus on the better/best long term or reusable header gaskets, considering both gasket fit and port hole fit."
I guess I didn't get it.
John