header gaskets

[michael69]

Does anyone have any ideas on the best header gaskets to use. Ones that seal the best and last a long time. Is the copper ones any good? THANKS FOR YOUR HELP.

[Dragon]

I use Felpro Sandwich gaskets coated with Copper Coat.

[Ranchero50]

Permatex Ultra RTV. Ford didn't use exhaust gaskets and neither should you. Copper sounds cool and makes great advertising but it'll still deflect under load and it won't go back to it's original form so you end up with a leak. The permatex works really good because it only fills the little gaps between the head and the header flange. Buy some Nordlocks from fastenall at the same time. They're serated lock washers that stack on top of each other and have a wedge between the washers so it's actually harder to loosen the bolt than to tighten it. They work.

Jamie

[bumpside]

If you are talking about tube headers,with clean, flat, and true surfaces, any gasket will work fine. Just start tightning from the center working out to the ends. If you have room for flat washers, use them. Re torque after reaching normal temp.

If the surface is questionable use copper gaskets. They help with some minor imprefections, and will help conform better to the problem areas.

If stock exhaust manifolds........... use what the factory used. Just be sure all is clean, very clean.

[easy]

im using cooper gasket with high temp rtv put it together and let it set overnight b4 starting no touble 18 months passenger side done twice starter went bad reused the gasket

[Dragon]

Pure copper not sandwich copper gaskets can be heated on a stove until they turn black. The Black happens when the copper gets hot enough to soften. You can then reuse it.

[fitzwell]

Victor Nitroseal, with a bead of Ultra Copper around both sides of each port. Let set up for about 15 min. Install & keep an eye on 'em for the first week or so of driving.

[Dragon]

Always retorque the heads after the first 20 minutes of running.

[reflectionpoint]

Having the same basic problem here.. used three fel pros and can't get it to seal on my Cragar HotShot headers.. the headers have the welded bead on the flange surface so I'm assuming I'm getting the same result Pollock was having.. so I ordered the 'good' gaskets from Napa, thinking they might be copper or something, but they are actually carbon.. are these worth the $25 I spent for them?

EDIT: Found my leak.. http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... =3&t=39335

-~E