header gaskets???
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header gaskets???
i need advice on which header gaskets to buy.i have a 460 with headers on my 74 f-100 and they dont seem to seal off completely with regular gaskets so ive searched on ebay for gaskets and i came across copper gaskets and percys xx carbon which set would u guys try both are priced similar please help before i buy it now
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Are the ports on the cylinder head matching the gasket and is the gasket matching the header?
I bet you'll get several different answers about what works and what doesn't.
IMHO the copper has never really worked well for me, either the pressed paper type or carbon graphite have worked well with a think coat of the RED RTV silicone. One trick for the pressed paper is to actually SOAK them in water and then install them and crank the bolts down. Has worked very well for a friend of mine.
Josh
I bet you'll get several different answers about what works and what doesn't.
IMHO the copper has never really worked well for me, either the pressed paper type or carbon graphite have worked well with a think coat of the RED RTV silicone. One trick for the pressed paper is to actually SOAK them in water and then install them and crank the bolts down. Has worked very well for a friend of mine.
Josh
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From: Sin City
I am using copper on my FE. The best thing for any header gasket is frequent torqueing after install. Put them on, torque to specs, run the engine to full warm up, retorque, run the truck about a 100 miles, retorque, a couple weeks later retorque, get the picture? Retorque.
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I like soaking gaskets, but do not like using rtv. I am on the fence with copper, and aluminum gaskets. I have had the best luck with wire reinforced gaskets from Fel-Pro. Regardless of the type, the bottom line is how much the gaskets compresses and whether or not the gasket can compress after a few heat cycles. The bolt cant stay tight if the gasket compresses after a few heat cycles. Once this clearance is permitted, the gases leak past the gasket and this leak eventually blows out even the best gaskets.
Having true and accurate flanges are the best. To top things off the thicker the flange the better the seal, and the longer it will last.
I have used Stage 8 locking fasteners on headers before only to have a failure again. Darn sure the fastener did not loosten up, but if the gaskets can compress, and the clearance is no longer the same, it is the same as a loose fastener, and you will leak.
This is why tightening up header flanges should be part of a routine, and not just forgotten.
Super high dollar headers have less of a problem with this. You can really crank down on the fasteners. Flanges stay true and straight even after you lay down some heat cycles, and torque.
Having true and accurate flanges are the best. To top things off the thicker the flange the better the seal, and the longer it will last.
I have used Stage 8 locking fasteners on headers before only to have a failure again. Darn sure the fastener did not loosten up, but if the gaskets can compress, and the clearance is no longer the same, it is the same as a loose fastener, and you will leak.
This is why tightening up header flanges should be part of a routine, and not just forgotten.
Super high dollar headers have less of a problem with this. You can really crank down on the fasteners. Flanges stay true and straight even after you lay down some heat cycles, and torque.
