brandon_01_ta

had Hooker lt's installed and it didn't sound right at all i knew i had some kind of leak... turns out i got a bad leak at the flanges. i used brand new gm gaskets and the stock bolts. my mechanic told me he re-tightened the bolts and that i either need new headers or different gaskets cause he tried everything and couldnt get them to stop leaking. he suggested some softer better sealing gaskets (carbon specifically)..... so Hooker won't take the headers back and so im gonna try a different gasket.... i'm gonna get Percy's gaskets but should i get the aluminum ones like on the ws6store website or should i get the Percy's xx carbon ones?? here are the links for the two.... help me out guys i'm in a hurry and this **** is driving me nuts!

http://www.jegs.com/i/Percy%26%23039...68032/10002/-1

http://www.ws6project.com/user_stor/...oducts_id=2093

evo462

iTrader: (27)

I used replacement MLS gaskets I picked up at the local GM dealer. No leaks so far, and it's been two weeks.

http://www.ws6project.com/user_stor/...oducts_id=1810

sjsingle1

iTrader: (1)

take a straight edge to the flanges and make sure they are flat......cant seal a warped flange.....and check to make sure you have not stripped any bolt holes

brandon_01_ta

yeah those are the ones i used, they were brand new

brandon_01_ta

i will check both, thanks.... but i'm going to go ahead and order new gaskets before i take them back off so anybody have advice on which ones to get between the two i mentioned? i'm leaning towards the carbon ones, from what i understand they are more likely to seal better but prob won't last as long as the aluminum....

sscandyman26

iTrader: (1)

i went with the stockers worked great no leaks and its been 6mouths

LS1MCSS

iTrader: (18)

I tried the carbon ones and they leaked. I went back to the stock, used, gaskets and no more leaks.

conor.davis

iTrader: (20)

I would take the headers off and check them with a straight edge I bet you will find out why it is leaking. I'm sure you can find a machine shop with a big belt sander to make the flange true for you don't want to mess with it. Then you can use stock MLS gaskets.

99 Blue Bird

iTrader: (3)

go with some REMFLEX gaskets. its a company out of washington. these header gaskets r bad ***, have had them for two years. i bought the percy gaskets and blew them out in 2 weeks. the remflex gaskets are made of solid graphite and crush to fit pitted and warped flanges. and u never have to re torque you headers. i promise you will love em. ill never buy anything else. if you pm me ill give you there info since they r not a sponsor.

Paul Bell

iTrader: (9)

I had header gasket problems on my old LT1. I tried a graphite set but they blew out.

I then tried SCE copper embosed gaskets. They worked great. I won't use anything else.

shaun

gm mls ftw

BADD SS

iTrader: (4)

GM MLS are probably the best gasket made for these motors, they arent finiky, I have re-used them several times on both of our cars without issue. You have to tighten the bolts down fairly well IMHO though. Your headers might be warped, All I know is some people dont even use gaskets, these arent sbc's and our heads are milled very smooth on the exhaust port.

brandon_01_ta

well i used brand new GM MLS gaskets and both sides are leaking real bad.... so either my heads are warped or the headers that Hooker sent me are F'ed up pretty bad.... the flanges were a weird design but they looked smoothe and flat.. and the bolts were tightened about as tight as they could be... anyway i went ahead and ordered some Percy's gaskets (the aluminum "dead soft" ones... not the carbon) ... so hopefully that will at least help if not fix it.....

joecar

Post some close up pics of your header flanges.

brandon_01_ta

here are some pictures.... i know, Hooker makes their flanges weird because the ports are raised they arent flush... but the raised area seems to be flat and level