ok i put those cool aluminum gaskets in after my paper gaskets blew out, but now its still leaking, ive tried tightening them down in different patterns, and using the liquid gasket stuff, im getting a second set of aluminum gaskets tomorrow to double them up, has anyone done anything cool to get a good seal?

 

When I first installed my headers, I had paper gaskets, which of course, leaked. I got some of the aluminum gaskets, which sealed the passenger side, but the driver's side still leaked, just not as badly. So, I bought a set of paper gaskets from Autozone and put them (BOTH of them!) in with the aluminum gasket on the driver's side. It sealed the leak. Then, I discovered that the pipe was also leaking where it was clamped onto the collector. back to Autozone I went for some exhaust repair tape. After wrapping the pipe, the leak was gone!

 

sounds like it could work... so the paper gaskets didnt blow out?? i would think that would void the point of putting the aluminum ones in...eh might aswell try..

 

A few weeks ago I read a post like this where someone mentioned using two sets of stock type exhaust gaskets. He said he put the fiber sides of the gaskets toward each other with the metal sides facing the heads and the headers. Never heard of this before, but he said it worked for him.
Thought it was worth mentioning. Good Luck.

 

ctandc is the one that double stacks. But that is for the header gaskets, I'm not sure about the collectors though.

 

They havent blown out yet, and I have had them in for about a week now.

 

i went in yesterday and clamped two sets of metal gaskets together, then coated them in high temp gasket stuff, and them pooped them in there, it worked real well, and was easier to keep the gasket to the flange with out having to hold it tight!! i hope it holds,

 

I had the same problem, blew out those paper ones like 3 times at the collectors and on the motor where the headers go in. I solved this by using copper instead of the aluminum. Also on the collectors try putting a couple of lock washers and tightening them down good. Do not tighten one at a time as much as possible...tighten them gradually. Havent had the problem in months on the road or track. I believe it was Earl's copper that I got.

 

I gotta start sleeping more...

 

Hmmm.......double stacks......

Yup, that's me. Old tip from an old 60's racer years ago. I see guys spending $40 on fancy gaskets and even more on high $$$ header bolts, and somehow I "Get by" with normal bolts, loctite and some Fel Pro stock gaskets.......


As for collectors, the Alum gaskets work well, but sometimes they can be thick enough to throw the Y-pipe alignment off......trust me on this one

I've got a collector leak now from where my "buddy" got air ratchet happy on the collector bolts and warped the Y-pipe side flange. I'm going to take it in to a guy this week to fix it...he's just going to cut the very end ( flange ) off the Y-pipe, install new flanges and I'm going to use the alum gaskets with some high temp RTV......

Actual RTV can help sometimes, as the flanges are sometimes not perfectly flat, and it helps fill in the gaps.



HTH