I burn through exhaust gaskets. I have for years, basically since the headers. Ive tried a number of different kinds, metal, paper, felt, copper... but either they don't really fit, or leak or just ... argh.

ANYWAY... My best results have been with these:


They're semi-metallic in that they feel/look like a paper/felt combo with some sort of "woven" metal in them.

The problem is that I have no idea where I got them, and I can't seem to source the part number(s) that are on them.

Help?

 

sounds like the stuff that was shipped with my downey headers. you might call them up and ask what they use.

 

hmmm... Downey decided to have a day not answering their phones.

Good idea, but I'm still trying to figure out where _I_ got these from (I didn't get gaskets with my headers). Could have been from the bottom of a local Napa guy's misc gasket box.

BumP!

 

I just use the orange stuff on everything - (Ultra Copper)

 

Really?

(reference)

An intermittent rating of 700* is enough for there? My larger trouble spot comes at the base of the header going into the crossover. I'm pushing 1400* at the exhaust port.

What about temps in/around the O2 sensor? I have a leak there as well.

 

Mark -

You know that Edelbrock sells a gasket kit right? Part #6933. In fact, I complained to them about some other issues and demanded something in return for my information. I told them a free gasket kit would be fine for now.

I am curious why you are burning through gaskets like this? I mean, my EGT's have got to be up there with yours, and I haven't had any issues. Every month or so I do climb under there and torque nuts and bolts down (often finding some loose). Have you been doing that too? Maybe your bolts/nuts get loose enough to create a hole or something.

Anyway, the point of my post is that you could probably get a gasket set for free from Edelbrock. Want the engineer's email? I have it.

 

Ahhh.. the gaskets I'm burning through aren't the header gaskets, they're downwind of that, basically it's the gaskets used in my removable crossover pipe.

The RIGHT solution is to get back to my favorite exhaust guy and have him replace the whole dern thing with a real ball & socket joint. But that's a bit of a time and $$$ expense.

Oh, and I'm burning through them 'cause the piece was a crap fit to begin with and I refuse to go back to the idiots that did it.

 

No, I know that. Kit 6933 comes with the gasket you are talking about.

 

Oh... the only references I found didn't have pics, and they kept calling it a "header gasket set".

Okay... I'll continue to look

Thanks Christian!

 

I can take a picture of the kit. It's hanging on my garage wall. LMK.

 

Do you have a picture of what a "ball and socket" joint looks like? Before I put my headers on I was thinking of paying a visit to an exhaust guy with my headers in hand and exploring connection options.

 

check out the NWOR headers... they come on the end of them (a quality product)

 

Just a quick thought.

When i was running headers on my Chevy drag cars, and when i did the Downey header on my 83, what did is.

I usually run a pressed paper type gasket(the non-metal type)i would soak them in water till they puffed up pretty good. then i would install them tighten the bolts or nuts down with red loc tight, run the engine till normal operating temp, tighten down again very carfully since they are hot as *&&%. let cool all they way down then tighten one last time. The gasket would dry itself out picking up all the uneven surfaces between the header and the head.They usually were good for a while after that.

worked good for me , think i got it from some old Bracket racer in Wa.

Oh ya i did the same thing for the collector gaskets too.

 

There's this little caveat with their headers:

*Not legal for sale or use in California on
pollution-controlled motor vehicles.

At least I know another name for the connection now . . . " ball joint collectors"

 

oh ya whatever you CA peeps and your stupid pollution-controlled crap

 

Its probably not stamped on the header , so just call it the downey one for your rig and carry a copy of the description and Carb # in your glovebox for smog checks. Unless the tech is a Toy geek i doubt they will know the difference and if he/she is they wont call you on it. Everyone here in Ca knows its all bull about the Carb # thing anyway, it either pollutes or it doesnt, shouldnt matter about some stupid registration that the manufacture has to pay for to get a Carb #

JMO

 

too bad they're from a HORRIBLY CRAPPY company.

fwiw, the flat 2-hole BS flanges on my system were put there by the exhaust shop that did the original install, not Downey.

 

I called the exhaust guys. They said that if the header came prepped for a slip on connection that they'd weld on a flange for a 3 bolt connection. That should seal up tight. Would that solve the burning gasket problem?

 

have you tried using asbestos gaskets? i don't know if anybody makes them for your exact app(well, that's a generic looking flange, so maybe) but you can buy a sheet of the stuff for about 6 bucks. i've found it to work pretty well.

 

hmmm... really? Searching Google with "asbestos gaskets" keeps turning up a lot of info on "non asbestos gaskets".

I'll keep looking. Thanks Kyle!