Longtube header gasket leak!!!
Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Huntington, WV
Longtube header gasket leak!!! Just got done installing my Flowtech longtubes and I've got a nasty leak on the driver side head. The whole install went great, took a little less than 4 hours including new plugs and wires install, and I came across few problems and all were easily fixed within minutes. But.....I do have a leak. I reused the factory gaskets at first and then I tried using the flowtech gaskets, which btw suck *** and are extemely restrictive. Right now I'm driving the car as much as I can, hoping maybe the headers will "season in" as I like to call, and I'm going to order a new set of factory gaskets and try them again. If anyone has had this problem and has any suggestions on a particular gasket I should try, please feel free to comment. I'd love to find a gasket that matches the exhaust ports just as the factories do. I guess my last resort will be some high temp blue glue, but I'd rather not fool with that. Thanks all.
Rob
Rob
TECH Addict
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 2,336
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From: Fat Chance Hotel
I heard a rumor once about a guy who used two gaskets per flange to get something like that to seal. It wasn't a GenIII, but it was a similar exhaust problem. I never did catch his name, but he said it was a "last ditch" effort...wink wink nudge nudge say no more.
Staging Lane
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 78
Likes: 0
From: Bedford, TX
I have the same problem, back tube on drivers side leaks, but I let the deaders get hot then tighted them back down, no leak, hope this helps. By the way the y-pipe sucks, mine would not fit into my cat back and it was not wide enough to mate to the headers, I had to pry it over to get it on the passager side header collector.
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Huntington, WV
Originally Posted by Trans Am Kid
I have the same problem, back tube on drivers side leaks, but I let the deaders get hot then tighted them back down, no leak, hope this helps. By the way the y-pipe sucks, mine would not fit into my cat back and it was not wide enough to mate to the headers, I had to pry it over to get it on the passager side header collector.
I used some WD-40 and sprayed some on the I-pipe and it slipped right in, the coating on the y-pipe makes it a little tight
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Thread Starter
Staging Lane
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 69
Likes: 0
From: Huntington, WV
Originally Posted by WILWAXU
Is the flange bent?
As far as I can tell it isn't. But it seems like I'm not the only one having this problem. It's the front port on the driver side header thats ticking. Someone mentioned some soft aluminum gaskets would do the trick, but they are $40.00 and I'd rather not spend that kind of money on gaskets. I guess I'll just wait another week and give the new factory gasket a shot. A few people have told me that they were finally forced to use some high temp gasket glue...lets hope that won't be my last resort.
i've got a leak that developed ... well its been there since installed them ... but its gotten worse as a result of the bolts loosening. I need to pull my Ypipe/catback off this summer. Re adjust the headers and retorque the bolts. Hopefully that'll fix the leak
Launching!
Joined: Jan 2003
Posts: 218
Likes: 0
From: NV
Originally Posted by Sonny
Are all of you that experience header leaks using stock header bolts or stage 8 w/ locks?
On the drivers side, I had one leaking pretty badly. Not ticking loudly yet, but was about to start. We installed them with new Fel Pro gaskets and Stage 8 locking bolts too. Guess this is an ongoing problem with many of the headers for the LS1/6 motors. Those fancy triple thick ones with the aluminum in between might be the way to go. . . I think Earl's makes them? Not sure. There has to be a better way, mine only had 3,000 miles on them, and no N20 ever used.
Last edited by ChevyGoldfinger; Apr 16, 2004 at 09:36 PM.
