New headers, New Problem

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Nov 11, 2007 | 11:00 PM

Rollin03F250

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Joined: Dec 2005

Posts: 50

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From: Flushing MI

New headers, New Problem

Just installed my new gibson headers and now i have a small tick on the driver side...i took apart where it bolts to the stock pipe about 3 times now and no change. Has anyone had such a problem?? Im hoping its not a factory defect on the headers maybe missed a pin hole or something while welding these up. Passenger side sounds great. Ticking only occurs under load it seems. I cant hear it at idle. It never "ticked" with stocker manifold on. Could it just be internal engine sounds coming though the headers??? Sounds like a leak tick to me. Came with brand new gaskets and hardware. The only thing different on the driver side is the dip stick runs up through the headers. im wondering if its not rattleing on the headers....Any ideas or experiences would be great thanks...

Dec 3, 2007 | 06:59 PM

jamiesan

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Joined: Sep 2004

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From: pennsylvania

sounds like you're pretty sure it's a leak, and it's comin' from the collector, right? Try deburring the the 2 mating flanges. Are these ball type connections?- or gasketed? Fianl thought are you certain it's not the gasket at the head? - since you said it mainly does it under load. Or might be the slight ping of detonation that you never heard B4 with the old manifolds.Try higher octane gas and see if it goes away.

Dec 3, 2007 | 10:10 PM

Rollin03F250

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Joined: Dec 2005

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From: Flushing MI

I have already contacted Gibson and they have never heard of anything like this. they sent me a new gasket for the head, and told me to try some copper permatex on the flange. I do have the ball type "fixed doughnut" connections. I put everything back together and still the same ticking. Im thinking that its just internal noises im hearing that i could never hear before from it being opened up so much...

Dec 4, 2007 | 05:25 AM

LxMan1

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From: Louisville,Ky.

If it was internal sounds, it would do it on both sides. Sounds like a small leak somewhere. Does it do it all of the time, idle, under load?

Spark plugs tight?

Dec 5, 2007 | 02:04 PM

5.4L to Freedom

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Joined: Jul 2007

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From: Spring Lake

Quote:

Originally Posted by LxMan1

If it was internal sounds, it would do it on both sides. Sounds like a small leak somewhere. Does it do it all of the time, idle, under load?

Spark plugs tight?

I have an interesting tick on my motor and it's all stock. Sounds like what he described, although i always suspected a cracked manifold.

Did you torque down your header bolts in teh correct sequence?