These 80 year old hands are getting a visit from Arthur, (mr. ritis) that is, nearly everyday so when it came time to cut collector gaskets out of high heat gasket material with a stainless core I tried something different that actually WORKED. Made an inside and outside template for a plasma tip guide and cut them out. Ground away some of the sealing material so a ground could be clamped to the stainless core and the cut SLOWLY to prevent flash back as this burns away the sealing surface. Way easier than trying to follow all the curves with a pair of snips. Car came with block huggers which no one can identify. Have 4 hole collector flanges with three bolt holes in ears that stick out and the fourth hole (next to the block) is in an indentation dipping in. Could not find gaskets with this pattern. Pictures show templates, gasket cut with snips, and plasma cut one.
Wow, 80 years old and still hot rodding!!! That's amazing. I hope I can do the same when I get there!!
Throughout most of life, we have the choice to do things the hard way or do them the smart way. After a certain age, the latter becomes less of a choice and more of a necessity if we expect to get anything done. Good job "old man". (from another old man)
Sacramento Vintage Ford used to carry those gaskets (and headers).....couldn't find them on their website now; but maybe a call?
Good for you, best thing you can do for your hands, keep moving! I am only 73 and they tell me I have arthritis in the joints between my thumb and forefinger. Sports Medicine offered to "s****e the joint" to remove deposits but when I refused the doctor said "then don't let them sit idle, keep moving".
I think that gasket fits a Pro Car block-hugger which are now made by/for Street and Performance in Mena, Arkansas. I've had a set of those headers on my '40 Chevy for 25 years or so - the long life I blame on having them aluminum coated from new. I finally got tired of replacing gaskets and welded the flange and a short piece of exhaust to the header and used band clamps to attach the rest of the exhaust pipe.
Street and Performance is a source for that style gasket (www.hotrodlane.cc). Years ago I used their headers on a 34 Ford project, good people, quality parts. Hope this helps.
Coilover, you are an inspiration to us all. I can only pray that I'm still able to still get out there and and get dirty when I'm your age. Keep going!
Us old guys rule, I'm 15 away from 80 but Damn I feel 80 in the morning anyway, if I'd only known I'd make it to 65 I'd taken better care of myself. You have to keep moving, my friends thought I was crazy when I started building this last June 40x80x13 It's been an experience
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