I have put headers on my 454. I tried two different gaskets and they are still leaking. The headers are Hedman, the exhaust port is 1.850x 1.900. I tried Mr Gasket Ultra Seal MRG-5911 for 1.93 round.
Any suggestions?

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[This message has been edited by Lowend (edited November 15, 2004).]

this may sound dumb.. but use STOCK exhaust manifold gaskets.. if they dont work double up stock ones and see if that works... i had leak problems with my SB... used stock ones some leaks stopped.. doubled them up.. and leaks were gone..

This question will get a different responce from everyone who ever installed headers. lol.
What worked for me was the common MrGasket paper gaskets. Put a small bead of silicone around each hole both sides and let dry till rubbery. Then put them on, check them several times for a couple weeks.


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73RS/LT/427

what has worked for me many times is mr. gasket header gaskets doubled up on both sides.also soaking the gaskets in water for a couple of hours then installing them wet.

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1972 chevy camaro ss 350 sbc 425 hp/356 @ the wheels,350 trans,373 gears,daily driver with restification in progress for that old school day 2 look ------- future plans- turning it into a baldwin motion Z30 clone
"IF IT'S TO LOUD YOUR TO OLD"
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I think the ultraseal exhaust gaskets are junk. I put a set on my 71 454 with AC. Got it all together and they leak, too much of a pia to change them with all the ac stuff. The regular paper ones work fine.

I will never use anything other than Earl's Pressure Masters. For the three years I've had them on my car, I only checked the bolts once. Never leaked. Every bit worth the price.

Fel Pro blue printoseal header gaskets, install them dry, retorque the bolts a few times and no leaks. Best supplimental purchase I made this year was ARP stainless 12 point header bolts, they don't back off (lock washers included with bolts). I have to pull the driver's side header off the head to re and re the oil filter, no problem reusing the header gasket over again.

Racer1320 (AKA Eddie spagetti) been booted because of his courteous demeanor?

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Custom Auto, your source for quality machine work, cores and new parts at competetive pricing right here in British Columbia 1-888-563-4050
A Canadian, EH? (with a 10 second street car)

I just installed anotehr set of headers yesterday. The previous owner had paper gaskets on it which did leak, right between the middle primaries on the driver side. When i put my paper gaskets on that they included with the headers, the same thing happened in teh same place. It just blows all the gasket apart and leaves the mesh. I'll be getting some copper or aluminum gaskets today to see if they work. I have heard that ultra seal gaskets work very good, but i am probably going to go with coppers.

Copper gaskets,, with my old Blackjack headers, have been working well on my 350.

I'm with zbugger. I got a couple of sets of Earls cheapie gaskets and they worked so well, that now I run them in all my cars with headers. While other paper gaskets seem to blow out and crack on me, Earls are thick enough to seal and don't harden up. I guess I'm lucky because a local speed shop that caters to the dirt track guys has them hanging on the wall here. I wouldn't know where else to get them.

<font face="Arial,Verdana" size="2">Originally posted by ZS10:
This question will get a different responce from everyone who ever installed headers. lol.
What worked for me was the common MrGasket paper gaskets. Put a small bead of silicone around each hole both sides and let dry till rubbery. Then put them on, check them several times for a couple weeks.


</font>

This is the best way ever. I use perma red form-a-gasket.

Make sure the shape of the hole in the header gasket is the same as the header, if its round, then use a round gasket. I also coat my gakets with hi-temp silicone, let it set up a bit and install, works great.

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70 Camaro Z/28 with 461cu.in. BBC & OD Auto, 3.31 12 bolt posi.

I'm with 1981coupe400ci on this one. I've been using the same set of stock exhaust manifold gaskets (like the silver ones that come in rebuild gasket kits) for about 15 years. Never has leaked. I've got Hedman headers as well.


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80 Z28, 406, Sportsman heads, Speed Pro forged pistons, 350 rods, Comp Cams 292 hyd, Weiand Team G, Holley 750 double pump, Richmond Gear Overdrive 6-speed, Auburn Gear limited slip, Torque Tech 3" exhaust, Flowmaster 3".
PST polygraphite bushings, Edelbrock IAS shocks, Moog coils

2002 WS-6 Trans Am, skip shift

1991 5.0 Mustang, FMS clutch and aluminum radiator, Hedman X-pipe, Dynomax Ultra Flo Welded mufflers, Flowmaster tailpipes, UPR clutch quadrant and firewall adjuster

I second the use of the stock gaskets. I also did this to mine....
http://community.webshots.com/photo/146528780/146537185taPQsB
If you have expensive headers, maybe just make a cut up/down in between flanges. It allows pipes to move separate of each other. I installed in March, ran through one heat cycle, then re-torque the bolts. Still no leaks.

Red silicone works great.

Here's a shot of a T/F header just after making the low E.T. of qualifying pass.

Notice the crack in the header. When originally pulled from the motor the silicone was not damaged even though the flange/pipe/weld had cracked.
Sorry for the blur, image taken from motion footage.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/2/web/422000-422999/422671_95_full.jpg

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Aero80