Header Gasket Help???!!!
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Eastern, CT
Header Gasket Help???!!! 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
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1TNy5mpz-oE
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.
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).
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).
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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/
http://www.remflex.com/
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Verdad Gallardo Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Eastern, CT
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/
http://www.remflex.com/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MRG-5965/
I had a hard time getting header flanges to seal until I found these gaskets
I had a hard time getting header flanges to seal until I found these gaskets
TECH Resident
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
From: Valdosta Ga.
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.
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.
TECH Resident
Joined: Feb 2005
Posts: 900
Likes: 0
From: Valdosta Ga.
TECH Fanatic
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 1,255
Likes: 11
From: centerville, ohio
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.
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/
http://www.summitracing.com/parts/EAR-29DA3BERL/
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Eastern, CT
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.
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.
Thread Starter
Launching!
Joined: Nov 2007
Posts: 203
Likes: 0
From: Eastern, CT