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I need the a good set of header gaskets, not collector gaskets. I want a quality set, so what brand will suffice? thanks
Who makes a good header gasket set?
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1,013 Posts
felpro on mine
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190 Posts
My T-bucket had a set of FUBARd headers on it that leaked every other week. Bought a set of gaskts at O'Reilly. They were like a bunch of sheets of aluminum foil stacked on top of each other. I had my doubts, but the damned things worked fantastic, never leaked again, even with multiple removals of the headers.
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126 Posts
Percy's :thumbsup:
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180 Posts
I use the copper ones for head to header and collector work good and you can re use them.
Yep, I've used those before with good luck. Those are Percy's. I like the looks of these too. I bought a set of these which I'll be using on my Lemons headers when get them. These are unlike any other header geaskets I've ever seen. BTW, te company recommends that you do NOT torque down the bolts real hard with these gaskets. Tey're very flexible and soft, and don't need the header bolts to be super tight, nor will they need to be re-torqued after the first few heat cycles as with other header gaskets......I'm using those perforated metallic exhaust manifold gaskets, work great, don't stick
http://catalog.remflex.com/category_s/164.htm
fel-pro graphite, I think that's the same as Fel-pro Performance.
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11,294 Posts
I love the cheapy white gaskets. Never had a leak, and they come off easily when needed.
The key with the cheapy gaskets and others is to keep retorquing them until they take a final set. This may mean tightening them up 5x. Gaskets shrink like bacon once heat and pressure are applied.
The key with the cheapy gaskets and others is to keep retorquing them until they take a final set. This may mean tightening them up 5x. Gaskets shrink like bacon once heat and pressure are applied.
Soaking them in water overnight and installing them wet & re torquing helps the 'white cheapies' too
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1,395 Posts
I like the Remflex's - http://catalog.remflex.com/
+1 on the copper ones for the headers. Never had a leak since I installed them 2 years ago.
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2,739 Posts
It's more important to get ones that FIT, than what they're made out of; and that the header flanges are flat.
Alot of the gaskets, the hole is the wrong size; I recall one time for example, some kind of them or other, one edge of the flange feature on the head, the hole was still bigger than the outside of that. No amount of soaking, tightening, or whatever else, will fix that. Another, the hole in the header, went below the bottom edge of the gasket. Again, no way to ever make that seal.
IMO the design or material of the gasket is less important than stuff like that.
I've had GREAT luck with the copper ones, with my combo; it fits my stuff, and covers both the holes in the heads and the ones in the headers. Can't promise they'll fit any other combo though.
Alot of the gaskets, the hole is the wrong size; I recall one time for example, some kind of them or other, one edge of the flange feature on the head, the hole was still bigger than the outside of that. No amount of soaking, tightening, or whatever else, will fix that. Another, the hole in the header, went below the bottom edge of the gasket. Again, no way to ever make that seal.
IMO the design or material of the gasket is less important than stuff like that.
I've had GREAT luck with the copper ones, with my combo; it fits my stuff, and covers both the holes in the heads and the ones in the headers. Can't promise they'll fit any other combo though.
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779 Posts
I'm with Vince. I have tried quite a few different ones but like the cheap white ones best. Just keep tightening them for the first few heat cylces. I had the last set on for 2 or 3 seasons of racing. Don't know how long they would last with street driving but the best thing about them is if you need to change them they release nice and clean with no lamination mess left on the head or header. I tried some dead soft Summit brand copper gaskets on the collectors this time when I put everything back together. So far so good with them. Sealed up great. May try them eventually on the headers if I need some. The copper releases clean as well.
The most important thing is to make sure that the gasket sealing surfaces on head and header flange are clean, straight and DRY. Use good quality fasteners and tighten the bolts in sequence, from the center of the flange, outward alternating sides of the flange as you go.
As far as gasket material goes, I have had excellent results with graphite facing on perforated steel core. These gaskets are available from Fel-Pro, Mr. Gasket, Victor-Reinz and others. Have heard that the Cometic mulit-layer steel header gaskets work very well, but have not had personal experience with them yet. Do not use any type of sealer or goop on header gaskets! It should not be necessary with good quality gaskets and proper installation procedures.
As far as gasket material goes, I have had excellent results with graphite facing on perforated steel core. These gaskets are available from Fel-Pro, Mr. Gasket, Victor-Reinz and others. Have heard that the Cometic mulit-layer steel header gaskets work very well, but have not had personal experience with them yet. Do not use any type of sealer or goop on header gaskets! It should not be necessary with good quality gaskets and proper installation procedures.
I agree 100%....Remflex by far is the best in my opinion. They're thick, but yet conform to the shape of head/header. Check em' out.
They're very soft and are made out of graphite. Very different than any other I've seen or had. Aside from that, the claim of the manufacture that grabs my attention is that there's no re-torqueing required with these gaskets. BBC headers can make it challenging to get at some of the bolts. Not that is can't be done, but just something extra that would be nice not having to deal with.
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