Gasket maker for headers
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New User
Joined: Oct 2008
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Gasket maker for headers
First i want to thank everybody that has helped answer my questions, I really appreciate it!
I have a 360 engine and I put a new header gasket on and it leaks inbetween two ports. I was wondering if there was a gasket maker you could put on with the felt gaskets to help form a better sealing gasket? perma tex has a copper gasket maker that looked like it would work, but I thought I would ask the experts first. Thanks.
I have a 360 engine and I put a new header gasket on and it leaks inbetween two ports. I was wondering if there was a gasket maker you could put on with the felt gaskets to help form a better sealing gasket? perma tex has a copper gasket maker that looked like it would work, but I thought I would ask the experts first. Thanks.
Lead Driver
Joined: Aug 2003
Posts: 7,592
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From: **** hole San Jose ca.
Sanderson headers don't use any gaskets, only the black High Temp RTV. If your trying to fix a pair of old leaky headers or the old OE exh log manifolds they may have burned out the heads where they were leaking.A common problem. Then the real fix is have the head exh face shaved and the manifold to or a good set of headers with a 3/8" header plate. They will hold a gasket better and you'll get longer service miles...my 2cents
orich
orich
New User
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 9
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From: South Carolina midlands
good advice above, but if you still have problems with manifold or header gaskets ...buy some furnace cement from the hardware store-it comes in a caulking tube for $5-$7- put a bead around each port on the header or exhaust flange and torque to about 90%, then wait about 10 min. before final tightening, now go take a good hour lunch. When you return, start the vehicle and let it warm up for a few minutes, DON'T REV IT UP, just allow it to warm up, shut it down and let it cool down a bit.
I've used this to cure many "problem" exhaust leaks on headers and manifolds over the years.
I've used this to cure many "problem" exhaust leaks on headers and manifolds over the years.
Senior User
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 457
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From: Burleson,Tx
First I would remove the headers and check the head and header surface with a straight edge to check how flat they are. I would also look closely at the header flange itself since alot of them tend to burn out around the port even though they may look fine there might just be a small spot around the port that isnt level with the rest of that port that you didnt notice when checking the entire header flange for flatness. As for a good gasket, I have heard lots of opinions and theories, my brother in law always likes using intake manifold gaskets on his pontiac, my other bro in law likes using aluminum mr.gasket header gaskets, I have had good luck using permatex high heat copper silicone gasket maker but I am **** about checking the header surface for flatness and I only use headers with at least a 3/8" flange.
For reference I am making a header for my diesel project with a custom 1/2" thick steel flange and it would still warp a little if I didnt have it bolted down to a spare head when welding so a cheap set of headers with a 1/8 thick flange or so will warp pretty easily ( I dont know what kind of headers you have this is just for reference only).
Randy
For reference I am making a header for my diesel project with a custom 1/2" thick steel flange and it would still warp a little if I didnt have it bolted down to a spare head when welding so a cheap set of headers with a 1/8 thick flange or so will warp pretty easily ( I dont know what kind of headers you have this is just for reference only).
Randy
