lethal bird

iTrader: (12)

Who needs header gaskets?? Open heads ftw!

StraightTimeStirrups

One friend that does this has been drag racing since the 50's and the other races Late Model Stock Cars and Drag Races as well. Both have told me (I verified it on all three of their cars they run no gaskets) when I didnt believe them!

To me, it just didnt seem right so I wanted to see what you guys had to say but they DO NOT run gaskets on their cars! It is nuts to me like I said in the first post.

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Using RTV will do nothing but blow out unless surfaces are completely, divinely and miraculously true. Don't understand the logic of not using gaskets unless exhaust leaks are of no concern and no dependency on O2 readings...

IronOutlaw

iTrader: (4)

I warped the heads on my first lt1 car when I was 17. I had a mechanic pull the heads off for me. The car didn't have any manifold gaskets, just rtv. I had driven it for over a year and probably 15000 miles like that with no leaks at all. That was with stock manifolds though. I later put headers in and couldn't get them to quit leaking WITH gaskets. Just thought I'd share, apparently you can go without gaskets, but I've ran aluminum ones ever since then.

stuart4185

i came across some aluminium gaskets a while ago, never used them, anyone try them?

StraightTimeStirrups

Why do you guys use the 1406 when Felpro makes a gasket from the same material specifically for an LT1 the 1470?

SS RRR

iTrader: (2)

Not too far out of the question since stock LT1 gaskets were steel. I think LT4 manifolds did not use exhaust gaskets from the factory.

whytryz28

iTrader: (28)

Liquid nails is the best

WhitePearl02SS

I just welded my TSP ls1 longtubes on. No leaks for over a year

katz_2003

iTrader: (5)

42 dollars vs like 17 dollars....And their ports are a little bigger. I've never had an issue with them. I've had mr gasket copper ones and they were such a pain to get to seal up. Tried these an never went back to anything else. I'm sure the 1470s work fine but over 50 bucks a set with shipping gets a little pricy.

stuart4185

they are 30 on amazon, and why not use the right gaskets? all the money we spend on these cars and to skimp out on the gaskets is unbelievable.

katz_2003

iTrader: (5)

Like I said...the ports are different, if you want to run your stock manifolds then i'm sure the 1470s are fine as the port dimentions are smaller then the 1406's. The 1406's matched up very well with my pacesetters plus they are cheaper! That is why I use them rather then the stock manifold 1470 gasket. Its really not skimping out on anything at all. Its more being smart with your money. If you want to spend the extra money that is perfectly fine with me, it wont bother me a bit. Just trying to help people out around here by giving them good advice. If you look around the site you will see many of the higher hp na lt1 guys running these gaskets with no problems.

WhitePearl02SS

I'm actually running MLS ones from gm.

StraightTimeStirrups

1406 and 1470 were the same price at my speed shop in So Cal.

I bought a set of those locking tab bolts. Question, do you heat cycle the headers a couple of times and tighten the bolts down before installing the tabs or do you just install them right away?

Joe

chaser2racing

you need to put them on when they are hot otherwise they will back off