header bolts and gaskets
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: rio grande city
header bolts and gaskets i just bout some used pace setter headers and i just wanted to ask out of this bolts which are the best and should i use treat lock is which treat lock blue or red and what gaskets ? http://www.sdpc2000.com/catalog/195/...olts-Studs.htm
Last edited by riodealz28; Feb 18, 2007 at 02:47 AM.
I like Earl's Pressure master best header gasket I have ever used.
Basic 12 point bolts no need for thread locker.
Header bolts do not loosen spontaneously, what happens is the gasket compresses and the bolts lose tension that way then begin to back out from vibration.
The Earl's have a metal frame around graphite seals. The seals are compressed till the metal frame contacts the head and header for all metal contact, check the bolts once after a day or two of driving and you might find a slight bit of room to tighten. From then on mine stayed perfectly tight.
Basic 12 point bolts no need for thread locker.
Header bolts do not loosen spontaneously, what happens is the gasket compresses and the bolts lose tension that way then begin to back out from vibration.
The Earl's have a metal frame around graphite seals. The seals are compressed till the metal frame contacts the head and header for all metal contact, check the bolts once after a day or two of driving and you might find a slight bit of room to tighten. From then on mine stayed perfectly tight.
TECH Resident
Joined: Oct 2005
Posts: 781
Likes: 0
From: Taxme, Ohio
Here's what I would buy:
http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...vid=4&pcid=301
No need for thread locker - as stated above. The copper gaskets that come with those headers are good but here are some top shelf replacements:
http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...4&sid=223#P945
http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...vid=4&pcid=301
No need for thread locker - as stated above. The copper gaskets that come with those headers are good but here are some top shelf replacements:
http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...4&sid=223#P945
Last edited by 01Z28M6; Feb 18, 2007 at 08:40 AM.
I am the guy that has had hell with bolts, and say lockem with the blue paste stick from loctite. Why not? It will not do anything but help you.
Oh and for christ stage 8's been there and done that, and they are not that great, especially for the money. Enjoy getting them off and on depending on your headers.
1 inch bolts with loctite all the way and a quality gasket. I have had bad luck with aluminum crush seal gaskets, but cannot speak for the copper.
I am using mr gaskets dark gray square port gaskets at the moment.
(make sure whatever you use is a drop in style gasket)
Oh and for christ stage 8's been there and done that, and they are not that great, especially for the money. Enjoy getting them off and on depending on your headers.
1 inch bolts with loctite all the way and a quality gasket. I have had bad luck with aluminum crush seal gaskets, but cannot speak for the copper.
I am using mr gaskets dark gray square port gaskets at the moment.
(make sure whatever you use is a drop in style gasket)
The problem with fiber or graphite header gaskets is that when the bolts loosen up, the gaskets blow out.
I'm using the SCE copper gaskets, 4611. 30 bucks at Summit:
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Even IF my bolts loosen up, the copper gaskets won't blow out. Just re-tighten the bolts.
I was going to use the ARP 1 inch bolts with 12 point heads (1212) but it's out of stock at Summit for 27 bucks. Jegs has them but for a whopping 40 bucks.
I stumbled upon the Specter Performance fastener rack at Pep Boys. (It pays to wander around in Pep Boys or Auto Zone for an hour just looking at things. Plus, it drives the girlfriend krazy, kinda payback when they drag us out shopping.) They have an intake bolt set, 3/8 X 1 inch with 12 point heads and small diameter washers for 10 bucks. Their part number 46523. Gold anodized, they actually look pretty good.
http://www.spectreperformance.com/
Now, I'm not one to bitch about a few dollars one way or another but these bolts aren't mission critical and won't be run up to very many foot pounds. I'm certain that they're more than adequate for this application. What the hell, they even throw in a 12 point wrench.
Squirt a bit of blue Loctite on the threads and your bolt loosening problems should be just a bad memory.
I'm using the SCE copper gaskets, 4611. 30 bucks at Summit:
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Even IF my bolts loosen up, the copper gaskets won't blow out. Just re-tighten the bolts.
I was going to use the ARP 1 inch bolts with 12 point heads (1212) but it's out of stock at Summit for 27 bucks. Jegs has them but for a whopping 40 bucks.
I stumbled upon the Specter Performance fastener rack at Pep Boys. (It pays to wander around in Pep Boys or Auto Zone for an hour just looking at things. Plus, it drives the girlfriend krazy, kinda payback when they drag us out shopping.) They have an intake bolt set, 3/8 X 1 inch with 12 point heads and small diameter washers for 10 bucks. Their part number 46523. Gold anodized, they actually look pretty good.
http://www.spectreperformance.com/
Now, I'm not one to bitch about a few dollars one way or another but these bolts aren't mission critical and won't be run up to very many foot pounds. I'm certain that they're more than adequate for this application. What the hell, they even throw in a 12 point wrench.
Squirt a bit of blue Loctite on the threads and your bolt loosening problems should be just a bad memory.
Trending Topics
LS1 Tech Stories
The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked
Pouria Savadkouei
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP
Verdad Gallardo
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes
Verdad Gallardo
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power
Verdad Gallardo
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die
Verdad Gallardo
Five Reasons the Camaro Was the Most Pivotal Player in the Pony Car Wars 2.0
Brett Foote
10 Reasons the LS7 Is GM's Most Extreme Naturally Aspirated V8 Engine Ever
Verdad Gallardo
Originally Posted by Paul Bell
The problem with fiber or graphite header gaskets is that when the bolts loosen up, the gaskets blow out.
I'm using the SCE copper gaskets, 4611. 30 bucks at Summit:
Squirt a bit of blue Loctite on the threads and your bolt loosening problems should be just a bad memory.
I'm using the SCE copper gaskets, 4611. 30 bucks at Summit:
Squirt a bit of blue Loctite on the threads and your bolt loosening problems should be just a bad memory.
Not quite. I am running a set of Earl's pressure master gaskets and have been leak free since day 1 even with the driver's side rear header missing 1 bolt (1 from the last- broke off and couldnt get it out). If you remember to retighten your header bolts from day 1 of install you shouldnt have a problem with almost any gasket blowing out. That being said a 1" ARP stainless bolt is all you usually need if you can remember to retighten the bolts everyday.
Loctite only works if you don't need to retorque them. The second you touch them with a wrench after the loctite sets, you just break the bond the loctite made
Thread Starter
On The Tree
Joined: Sep 2005
Posts: 119
Likes: 0
From: rio grande city
this 1ns look good what do yall think but wich 1ns the 1st 1ns or the second prt # 4667 or prt #4668
http://www.spectreperformance.com/#CATALOG.4668
check in the performance fastiners section
http://www.spectreperformance.com/#CATALOG.4668
check in the performance fastiners section
I have Percys Aluminum gaskets and Stage 8 bolts, work really great, but like said above the Stage 8 are a pain to get on the first time, you really have to work on them to get a really good fit, I had to grind down each and every locking flange, but now its super tight and no leaks, getting them off isnt so bad, and putting them back in after the initial install is tough but nothing impossible
Originally Posted by Captainofiron
I have FLP long tubes, they were a pain initially
Originally Posted by Captainofiron
I have Percys Aluminum gaskets and Stage 8 bolts, work really great, but like said above the Stage 8 are a pain to get on the first time, you really have to work on them to get a really good fit, I had to grind down each and every locking flange, but now its super tight and no leaks, getting them off isnt so bad, and putting them back in after the initial install is tough but nothing impossible
I couldnt ever get the crush gaskets to seal well, whats the secret?
You dont want to put to much torque on an aluminum heads, so these really scared me.
Originally Posted by Paul Bell
The problem with fiber or graphite header gaskets is that when the bolts loosen up, the gaskets blow out.
I'm using the SCE copper gaskets, 4611. 30 bucks at Summit:
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Even IF my bolts loosen up, the copper gaskets won't blow out. Just re-tighten the bolts.
I was going to use the ARP 1 inch bolts with 12 point heads (1212) but it's out of stock at Summit for 27 bucks. Jegs has them but for a whopping 40 bucks.
I stumbled upon the Specter Performance fastener rack at Pep Boys. (It pays to wander around in Pep Boys or Auto Zone for an hour just looking at things. Plus, it drives the girlfriend krazy, kinda payback when they drag us out shopping.) They have an intake bolt set, 3/8 X 1 inch with 12 point heads and small diameter washers for 10 bucks. Their part number 46523. Gold anodized, they actually look pretty good.
http://www.spectreperformance.com/
Now, I'm not one to bitch about a few dollars one way or another but these bolts aren't mission critical and won't be run up to very many foot pounds. I'm certain that they're more than adequate for this application. What the hell, they even throw in a 12 point wrench.
Squirt a bit of blue Loctite on the threads and your bolt loosening problems should be just a bad memory.
I'm using the SCE copper gaskets, 4611. 30 bucks at Summit:
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku
Even IF my bolts loosen up, the copper gaskets won't blow out. Just re-tighten the bolts.
I was going to use the ARP 1 inch bolts with 12 point heads (1212) but it's out of stock at Summit for 27 bucks. Jegs has them but for a whopping 40 bucks.
I stumbled upon the Specter Performance fastener rack at Pep Boys. (It pays to wander around in Pep Boys or Auto Zone for an hour just looking at things. Plus, it drives the girlfriend krazy, kinda payback when they drag us out shopping.) They have an intake bolt set, 3/8 X 1 inch with 12 point heads and small diameter washers for 10 bucks. Their part number 46523. Gold anodized, they actually look pretty good.
http://www.spectreperformance.com/
Now, I'm not one to bitch about a few dollars one way or another but these bolts aren't mission critical and won't be run up to very many foot pounds. I'm certain that they're more than adequate for this application. What the hell, they even throw in a 12 point wrench.
Squirt a bit of blue Loctite on the threads and your bolt loosening problems should be just a bad memory.
Buffman made the point I was going too about how even if the heat did not mess up thread locker the fact you should be retightening header bolts for the first few days would ruin the thread locker.
Pay atention to those who can reason through issues like this and you know who has their head on straight and who has theirs, well somewhere else
.
I tried the Percy's dead soft collector gaskets. I will take a picture(camera is charging) so you can see how badly they deformed, did eventually get them to mostly seal with some copper silicon
.
Pay atention to those who can reason through issues like this and you know who has their head on straight and who has theirs, well somewhere else
.I tried the Percy's dead soft collector gaskets. I will take a picture(camera is charging) so you can see how badly they deformed, did eventually get them to mostly seal with some copper silicon
.