help on header leak
help on header leak i sorry if this is a dumn question for some but how can you check for a header leak? do you just check for the bolts? i had a slight tap sound when i give it the gas and a guy told me he thinks it was a exhaust leak well when i was driving it home it got real loud just was wondering how to check it and the gauges all show normal conditions nothing wrong with oil pressure or anything so thinking its this or could it be something else? thanks for your time. mike
I usually let the motor cool down completely then I start it and feel for a leak around all the primary tubes before they get to hot. If you happen to have coated headers you will probably be able to see a black/brown stain on the header.
Yea, I got the same tapping sound & just finished my LT install. I was thinkin about re-checking all the bolts. If that don't work then I'm headed to GM to get a new set of stock gaskets.
Ive got a pretty bad ticking aswell. When my car is running, I carefully put my hand around the headers, ypipe, collector etc. and I can feel air being pumped out from where my ypipe meets my header. So just feel around and see if you can feel any air being pumped out. Now I have an excuse to get a new exhaust set-up. 
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Originally Posted by BIG_MIKE2005
Well my ticking has to be from the gasket area, since I'm still open headers until lunch today.
That's a good way to isolate the sound!
Header flanges should have some signs and puffing that you can feel if they are bad. I've found that doubling over some aluminum foil to make a 2" strip about 10" long and like 8 layers thick makes a nice FREE deadsoft gasket. You can wrap it around a slip fit then put a band clamp over it, then tighten the **** out of the clamp.
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