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best header gaskets

fallguy

fallguy

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montgomery tx
i did a search but did not find too much info on gaskets. i am looking for the best header gasket that i can get. i have hooker super competition headers and a brand spankin new 383 to put them on :D. i also have the stage eight bolts to go with them, just cant decide on the gaskets:confused:
 
Truthfully? I use a finger of orange rtv around each port. Used it for 4-5 years without a single problem. This is on dirt track cars, trucks, drag cars everything.
 
Mr. Gasket makes a set of graphite gaskets that I like really well. I usually paint them with high temp aluminum paint and install them just as the paint starts to get tacky.
 
I seem to get a year out of the cheap aluminum gaskets for stock manifolds from NAPA with my headers. The nice thing is that its not a 1 piece gasket and you can install them easily without having to completely unbolt the headers. I've seen a friend of mine go all out and buy $40 copper gaskets that were so sexy to look at but he bent them trying to install them :haha:
 
I've had copper gaskets on my 388 since 1996, still working fine actually. I've had good luck with the percy's aluminum ones too, but you need to retighten them after the first few heat cycles.

Also, those percy's carbon gaskets work well so far (not quite a year), they feel kind of like felt. However, I'll probably go back to the aluminum or copper next time because those you can reuse multiple times. Can't with the carbon.
 
i have Percy's aluminum gaskets, and they have worked great...best sealing header gasket i have ever used.
 
i've heard that the copper is the best, but i wanted to check w/ like minded folks first :D
 
Even the dirt cheap paper-like ones will last several years if you tighten the bolts every so often, only takes a few minutes to do it.

Are the Stage 8 bolts the ones with the locking rings? They are a PITA and can be noisy.
 
I recently used some RemFlex gaskets which are graphite and really thick and compress 50% when tightened down.
 
header gaskets

I have had several failures when it comes to the header gaskets on my rig.What I found to be a heck of a product in my mind are Earls graphite foil gaskets.They have been on my engine for 8 years and never had to re torque these although I did check them after they were installed.These are also reusable(never did yet) and the inserts are replaceable if need be.worth every penny I spent on them.

Click here for earls gaskets.


Mike
 
Any type of dead soft copper or aluminum gasket should do you fine. I have a cheep junky warped set of black jack headers (that should tell you how old the headers are) I got tired of changing out gaskets for both header and collectors. dead soft copper and stage8 bolts = 100,000 confirmed trouble free miles.

Cheers,

Rufus
 
I got the cheapy aluminum layered ones that almost every auto parts store sells.

They have been take on and off close to 5-10 times...still seal like a champ!
 
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