Im on my 4th set of header gaskets on my 95 TA i only have 1700 miles on the engine and headers. I know my flange on my headers is not warped because they are LPP headers and are about a Half inch thick. I installed New Copper gaskets because i heard they were the best.. . . . well im leaking from both sides now instead of one..... i heated them up by running the car for a bit then cranking them down. Ihave done that 3 time....still leaking.>....... any advice?????


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TNy5mpz-oE

 

Locking header bolts. Also, run OEM/stock header gaskets. Not aftermarket.

 

i ran paper gaskets the day i put the new motor in, drove it home back from the shop they blew...its very irritating

 

Get some Percy's crush aluminum gaskets and your problem will be solved. Also, get the locking header bolts from Stage 8 as said and tighten them down and lock them after a few heat cycles.

 

Copper gaskets suck. I've never ran locking bolts and everything has been fine. I bought some stage 8's a long time ago but they looked like a pain in the *** so I returned them.

Even though your header flanges are thick it doesn't mean they are truly flat. Check them with a strait edge to make sure. A lot of people have had good luck with felpro gaskets I can't remember the part# of the top of my head though, I'll quickly search and post it.

 

Get Felpro 1406 gaskets.

Tighten bolts. Make sure you tighten them after a couple heat cycles. Then tighten them again after a couple more heat cycles. Do this like 5 times. I just use regular header bolts with lock washers. Not stage 8 bolts or anything like that.

If that fails you can try putting red rtv on the gaskets.

If it still fails you have a warped flange (or head), a crack in the header, or another problem (loose rocker or lifter noise or something).

 

The gaskets that Z28ROXY posted are the ones I was talking about.

 

ive been fighting this problem for ever.....i blew felpros, coppers, aluminums, carbons, pretty much all of them.....then i found some from remflex they're like a thick soft malliable graphite material and they dont leak!!! been on the car for a while now finally with no leaks and to top it off they're fairly cheap like 30 for the set!!!! check em out.....
http://www.remflex.com/

 

Same here my damn car keep blowing gaskets no matter what ones i buy.....I bought the Felpros, Carbons, copper, and another brand wont seal...ive done 3 heat cycles ill do it again.......Thanks for the info i may have to get these

 

I've been using the Felpro 1406s for a decade without one leak. That with a good ARP 12-point 1" stainless bolt, never had a bolt back out.

 

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MRG-5965/

I had a hard time getting header flanges to seal until I found these gaskets

 

Percy's aluminum crush gaskets are what I use. Never had a leak.
Also, I dont why everyone uses ARP or any of those crazy expensive header bolts. You dont need them. All I have EVER used is the $7.99 set of MR. Gasket header bolts at any parts store. I love em. Never had one back out. You just gotta know what your doing.

 

The ARP bolts are $18. I wouldn't call that crazy expensive, Pretty reasonable if you ask me.

 

Really? When I saw them I swear they were like $60 or $70. Something crazy.

 

Same here, 1406's for 6 years and never a leak and thats with std header bolts. As for the heat cycle I checked and or tightened mine everyday before starting it for about a week or more. When you can't tweek them anymore then you're done.

 

The fancy ARPs you're talking about are just a standard run of the mill 12-point 1" 3/8ths headed bolt. It's the guys that spend $50-$70 on a set of bolts that doesn't make sense to me.

 

You guys that keep blowing gaskets - have you checked for damage to your headers and loose rocker arms? Loose rockers sound just like a header leak.

I had a "header leak" that drove me bonkers. I changed the gaskets IDK how many times. Eventually my friend kept telling me "you have another header leak!!!". I popped the valve cover, found out one of my rockers for #4 was loose, I reset it to whatever past lash (can't remember what it's supposed to be, lol) and never had a "header leak" again.

 

These have worked great for me, put them in and go, no need to re-tighten. They have replaceable inserts so you don't have to buy the whole thing if you ever need to replace them.
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EAR-29DA3BERL/

 

Nope its definatly the gaskets.....Ive checked them every time...they are blown out....when one does go out my car runs like **** and i can smell un-burnt fuel from the exhuast thus the reason why i failed emmisions twice in a row.

 

Only one of the 4 gaskets i had have i had my header blots back out...the bolts are not the problem they dont back out