Any quicker way to change header gasket???

[badmix]

One thing that has always chapped my azz is the drivers side front header bolt, you know the ONE bolt that holds most of your accessories to the front of the truck. What a PITA. that long bolt holds the Powersteering bracket and the A/C bracket. Which means Ive got to take off the 2 powersteering nuts/bolts and all the A/C nuts/bolts to get those brackets off. Has anyone come up with a better way (sort of removing A/C) to get around this??

 

[3 on the tree]

Change the front and rear gasket bolt holes to vertical slots. Then leave the front and rear header bolts in, but loosened. Pry out on the header, and drop the new gasket in place.

 

[badmix]

You are missing the point, lol.

All the gaskets I get have the two ends of the gasket slotted. That isnt the problem. The problem is, I have to disassemble the A/C and P/S brackets just to get to the front bolt to even loosen it up. Once the bolt is backed out than its a piece of cake, its just that I spend all my time on that ONE freaking bolt due to removing 1/2 dozen nuts/bolts & brackets to get to it.

 

[3 on the tree]

I see, said the blind man!

Is it possible to grind,cut the brackets a bit, to gain access to the header bolt? I have had better longevity with the factory style manifold gaskets, compared to the aftermarket gaskets.

 

[USSkoval]

I don't know what year the brackets changed, but GM did revise them. My '88 tbi 350 has the same bracket (like they all do of course), but it can be easily removed without disturbing any of the other brackets. I just had to replace the driverside gasket last week and it was a breeze. My buddies '84 C10 has the PITA bracket and so do my '86 Camaros, I would guess the design was modified in '87 when the tbi was introduced.

 

[sweetk30]

for header gaskets go buy 2 sets of stock felpro exaust gaskets from parts store. dubble them up and try that. i did it and had no leaks for over 3 years. works like a charm.

 

[bigbadchev84]

for header gaskets go buy 2 sets of stock felpro exaust gaskets from parts store. dubble them up and try that. i did it and had no leaks for over 3 years. works like a charm.

x2 on that

 

[onetonbb74]

I know what your saying with the all the acc. in the way. I just eliminted the ac and ran a non ac power steering bracket from a 70's truck that doesn't use the header bolts at all. I have a semi serp setup from an 88 burb. On my other motor, i put a stud there so all you have to do is loosen the nut and pry the brackets away w/ a prybar.