I have a set of headers that have been on for about four months now. I believe that I have a bad gasket (tick/tick/tick)...tried tightening the bolts to no avail, so I'm down to replacing the gaskets in hopes of curing my problem.

I put the headers on, but let a muffler shop make a Y-pipe & attach everything to the cat. They used a set of "buddies" to connect the collector to the pipe.

If I JUST take the bolts out of the header flange to the head, should I have enough play to allow clearance for getting a new gasket in, or am I going to have to take the collectors apart? If I must take the collectors apart, can I loosen the collectors & then re-tighten them, or will I have to mess around with that as a potential leak after I'm done, too?

Thanks!!

 

Yup, you don't have to disconnect them at the collectors. I usually do though because I replace the donut gaskets at the same time. I'd put a jack under the y-pipe(s) so the weight of the exhaust isn't pulling on the bolts as you loosen them and try to reinstall them.