I have change my exhaust manifold gaskets 2 time this month with 2 different types of gaskets and for some reason they keep blowing? Im thinking about buying the 50.00$ super thick alluminum gasket that crushes down and trying that but im not sure if its the quality of the gasket that is making it leak, is there a certain ft lbs of tourque that the bolts have too be tightend down too so that the gaskets will not blow? I have just been tightening the bolts as much as possible thinking the tighter the better because i dont want the ehaust too leak,do i have too warm the vehical up or anything and then tighten the bolts?

 

I have used Aluminum Percy's seal for good and they have been good. No issues. I'm not sure what the torque spec is for aftermarket headers but I replaced the gaskets with the engine cold and then tighten the header bolts to tight. Drive the car a day or two then re tighten. You don't want to over tighten the bolts and break one off...that's no fun.

 

I agree - the normal gaskets are usually junk - go with the dead-soft aluiminum and yo won't have to look back.

 

ok cool ty for the info

 

2 gaskets a month would be nice, try every weekend you drive the car. mine are hooker shorties and i would blow them like crazy. i took a file to the mating surface to get it more flat and then used the aluminum gaskets. i havent had a problem with my headers since and this was 2 years ago with the same aluminum gaskets

 

I have the flowtech aluminum gaskets, they work fine.

 

I have had to change mine once. The second set of edelbrock gaskets i got ,i made sure i elongated the holes first. Makes a difference in power too. about an 1/8 inch all the way around on each exhaust port.