Technical THE SUDDEN & ANNOYING TICK,TICK,TICK - NO MORE!

It's ironic that two weeks ago I put a little over 500 miles on the old beater and the car ran like a top, Saturday afternoon I cranked the car and on my way to dinner I noticed the ticking, I checked it when I got home and realized the ticking is not internal but is a exhaust leak.

I installed a new set of Felpro exhaust gaskets a couple of years ago, I routinely check to make sure the bolts are tight but 2 years seems to be the life expediency with these gaskets,

Have any of you guys used the Mr Gasket copper exhaust gaskets? they are twice the price but if they last longer it would be worth the added expense. HRP

 

What exhaust? I never use gaskets on manifolds, only headers. I have had to have the manifolds surfaced once before.

 

Danny, a trick I do is: I cut the fel pros between the inner and outer ports then install. Have never had another problem after doin that Just my 2 cents.

 

If they are cast iron manifolds, discard the gaskets all together. GM didn't use gaskets on manifolds.

 

Sorry guys I inadvertently omitted the fact that they are shorty headers, HRP

 

Those headers have a one piece flange????....

 

I have had the copper gaskets from speedway for over ten years , installed with copper hi temp silicone on the header side. Have been on & off probably a 1/2 dozen times , no leaks , no problems !

 

Cut the flanges between the ports also. Danny

 

The solution to your problem is one word Danny.
Remflex.
The best header gaskets period.
I’m using them on my RPU and they really work.

http://catalog.remflex.com/



https://www.summitracing.com/search...EcHrNFP-q6V2QwqYqJCY1jHRJWXOtfJ0aAgSwEALw_wcB






Over the years I’ve tried probably every type of header gasket ever made and they all eventually leak.
Not these Remflex gaskets they won’t burn out or stop sealing the flanges.
You won’t have to change them every 2 years.
Larry

 

I have also used Felpro blue header gaskets. I had some headers on an OT Pontiac that were a pain to change the gaskets on. I put those gaskets on it and even had bolts fall out never again having an exhaust leak.

 

X 2 on REMFLEX , had problem with regular gaskets and bolts backing out on a small block ford, put REMFLEX on never had a problem since ‼️‼️

 

Obviously your radio was not near loud enough if you noticed a tick..

 

My youngest brother pulled in one day all up in arms... I've got a rod knock! I said wait, let's take a look. Exhaust leak.
Cruising with my buddy at the Port Huron Cruise. All of a sudden... Wack wack wack. Oh no... I've got a rod knock! Pop the hood. Fan belt falling apart.

I'm glad it's just an exhaust leak, Danny. Have a good day.

 

No radio, I do have a old phone that I use when my daughter is with me. HRP

 

I have used the copper header gaskets Summit brand, Jegs brand, and Mr. Gasket. All Chinese manufactured I'm sure. But I have had good results. With headers and manifolds on my Olds engines. Joe

 

I have the Summit brand copper gaskets on my Chevy II, they work fine.

The sudden and annoying tick tick tick on that car has usually been a rocker nut backing off...so I bought a set of new nuts, and cured that problem.

 

This is the style header I installed years ago, of course after 3 decades the chrome ain't too pretty but we all know chrome don't get you home. HRP

 

Order the Remflex gaskets Danny, you know you want to
You won’t regret it.

 

"sounds" like plenty of personal preferences - never "heard" of Remflex but, worth a look -

 

The funny thing about that is if you tried Remflex high temperature graphite gaskets you’d develop your own personal preference because they work so good.

That same material has a great reputation in the industrial world for high temperature piping applications.

 

My 442 was notorious for going through header gaskets until I installed Remflex gaskets. This set has been on for 6 years or more. I was not paid for this endorsement but I am willing to sell myself cheap if Remflex is watching.

 

A note on the copper gaskets---some are too hard to seal properly. I used a set on an OT Ford I owned, they worked great. Put a set on the next Ford, they leaked from day one. I can't remember where I got them, but they were too hard to seal. Ended up buying a set of Mr Gasket layered aluminum gaskets, split them up as they were too thick for the room I had between the header and the fender. They sealed great, never any more problems with them leaking. I used the other half of them on my current Ford, no leaks there, either.

 

Me too! me too

 

I am a cheap bastard. I use the Mr Gasket black gaskets for headers. I usually have the headers off every 4 or 5 years anyway so I just change the gaskets while I got the headers off.

 

when I have an annoying tick tick tick I usually leave it until it becomes an annoying clunk clunk clunk... clunk clunk clunks are much simpler to diagnose.

 

If I end up going this route, do they offer the donuts also? HRP

 

I use paper gaskets, you know, the cheap ones....I never seize both sides, they never stick, and I use the same shorty header. I just changed a ten year old set, even the collector gaskets last, try that.

 

I used to use the paper gaskets...they sure don't tolerate a bolt that loosens. And if you don't keep after the bolts, they loosen.

 

I’m not sure which style of donuts you’re using Danny, you could give them a call and ask them.
Can you post a picture of what you’re using now?

 

Doh, What I should have said is COLLECTOR GASKETS. HRP