Recommended exhaust gasket brands/types

Looking for tips or tricks on keeping exhaust manifold gasket sealed. I am having a hard time keeping them sealed. They are Douglas headers.

 

Contact the people that made the headers and ask them.

Stage 8 bolts makes header bolts with a mechanical lock that keeps the bolts tight.

Sanderson Headers don't use a gasket but use a bead of black silicone that doesn't leak, at least mine don't.

 

Welcome Navin, What are your headers bolted to? I prefer ARP Header bolts with Mr. Gasket Ultra seal exhaust gaskets.

 

I've NEVER had a leak using copper silicone, just put a nice bead on your header and bolt them up.

 

If those Headers are not flat at the flange they will never seal no matter whos gaskets you use. I always check mine with a guide coat of spray paint and a long flat peice of metal with fine long file sand paper. If I see any low spots I weld them in and grind them flush. That's why I never buy finished coated headers.

 

Remflex makes the best header gaskets I've found. I don't know where you are in Washington, but they are made in the foothills of Mt Rainier so you should be able to find them locally.

http://catalog.remflex.com/category_s/19.htm

 

Use solid copper gaskets or dead soft aluminum gaskets....either one works well.

 

ok a little more info.made by who? and where did you get it?

 

Holy ****!!!! A thread with Navin Johnson *AND* Uncle Buck posting on it!!! And now CuznBrucie is here too!

CB

 

By far the best gasket material on the planet.

 

I use the cheapest paper jobs, make sure you coat both sides with never seize, they'll never stick or burn through, honest, 3 inch collector gaskets are reusable after the track, try it.

 

I am going to try putting a bead of silicon first. I buy remflex if next. Thanks for the help.

 

I would suggest using Ultra Copper RTV then. NAPA part # 765-1135

 

I have a leak on my 305, I just found a Remflex dealer in Houston. I am going to buy them tomorrow and install, I will keep everyone posted on how they work out. Hopefully they are the fix.

SN

 

On SBC's, I use OE manifold gaskets. They're a double layer steel gasket. No problems.

 

i use mr gasket not so many to chose from here in sweden or i make my own using material used on industrial uwens.
allvayes start engine and after 15-20 min let i cool off and tighten bolts again

 

I vote for the Remflex. I have them on my daily driver and have not had a leak yet, its been about 1.5 years and they get hot when I am towing my travel trailer. We started using them at the shop I work at as well and have yet to have a set come back leaking. Great product.
Jordan

 

Earls pressure master gaskets are the best Ive ever used. Tighten them once and forget about them. Available for lots of port shapes.

 

same here,never had a leak. and ive tried almost all the other ones that were availble around here.i had a set of headers that one was warped up bad. and i needed to get this car rollin. i order a new set but i doubled up on the warped one with stock gaskets. and ill be damned they didnt leak. i had to run them over a month because the ones i ordered were back-ordered.

 

All my exhaust leak problems have been from the bolts backing out due to heat cycles, then the gasket gets blown out. Since I started using Stage 8 bolts I've had zero problems. Stupid expensive, but then what's your time worth having to change gaskets every few months...

 

Another vote for Remflex, on my small block Ford with headers the gaskets never lasted very long and exhaust leaks drive me nuts. Read about Remflex bought a set at my local speedshop and they worked great and still going strong.

 

A buddy & I recently installed Remfelx on my SBC & they seem to work great, the leak is gone & I don't have the old lady complaning about the odor in the car, now its just my odor she complains about! Haha

SN