I just put on a set of 2055s using the high $ thick copper header gaskets. I thought these things weren't suppose to leak, but they do. Seems like the more I tighten them, the worse they leak.

Am I missing something?

What sort of gaskets are you guys having good luck with?

Thanks.

 

Did you prep the header flanges or just stick the headers on

Sometimes there is some welding spatter which will ALWAYS cause a leak
A file will clean this up

How often did you retorque the bolts?
Did you wait until they started leaking before you retorqued them?

I use the Mr.Gasket ones common in parts stores everywhere, socket head bolts and high temp RV sealant

I coat both sides lightly with the sealant and retorque every weekend for about 3 months
If a leak starts the whole gasket is compromised and must be replaced


I dont know how this will help your copper gaskets or other expensive materials but I have several years of service from my headers without a problem using this method

 

My friend just bought them and ripped them right out after about a week of messing with them. I haven't heard anyone ever, who had used copper gaskets, say that they work. I always hear people that never had them say that they will seal. I have the blue Fel-Pros on my Formula and my Nova. They work very well. And also, on the Nova, I just burned through a set of paper gaskets. They did last for about 2 1/2 years though.

 

I'm beginning to think they were a waste of money. I've torqued the crap out of them 3 or 4 times hot and cold with no noticable improvements. Both sides leak at the center two ports. The headers are hooker 2055s which have a nice thick flange that is nicely machined flat at the gasket surface. I'll give them another week or so, but I'm not holding out much hope.

 

Is it possible that you are over tighting the bolts causing the flanges to bow enough to make them leak? I have used copper header gaskets on all kinds of applications for many years with good results. Charles

 

Loosen all of your bolts or better yet take them out, spray some copper silicone spray on your copper gaskets and slide them back in, put the outer 2 bolts in BARELY just to hold the gasket up and torque from the center out. When I first installed my Hedman long tubes they leaked like mad no matter how much I torqued them, swapped the gaskets out with cheapo Fel Pro's, silicone sprayed them and torqued from the inside out; problem solved. I would also use a little red loc tite on the bolts or even some of the silicon, it won't completely stop them from loosening up but it'll make it MUCH more gradual.