Anyone have trouble sealing BBK shorty headers?

[87lc2]

Ive had the car for about 4 months and the headers were on when i got it. problem is, there is a quite annoying ticking/rasping sound when on the gas, but not when off. definately sounds like an exhaust leak, and the car stinks of raw fuel. there are no burn marks around the headers and the H-pipe to header seal seems to be ok (tight). just wondering if anyone else has had this problem and how they fixed it, it really makes the car sounds like crap. most evident time i hear it is on the highway while cruising if i punch it it sounds like crap, but as soon as i let off to normal cruising, its gone.....any hlep appreicated.

 

[N8Miller]

sounds like a ripped header gasket. make sure all the header bolts are tight, mine ALWAYS rattle loose.

 

[ddonaca351]

Mine cracked between the tubes where they go into the collector. Garbaged them and bought some nice 1.75 ceramics.

DD

 

[tunedin302]

The gaskets that come w/ BBKs are complete junk. I switched out my gaskets and no probs since.

 

[1988_gt_mustang]

The gaskets that come w/ BBKs are complete junk. I switched out my gaskets and no probs since.

same here new gaskets and i havent had a prob

 

[fox-gt]

Mine backed out after two weeks, gaskets crumbled when I removed the headers. Replaced them with some Mr Gasket UltraSeals and Stage 8 bolts, worked great. Bolts are expensive but worth every penny.

 

[95GTV8]

What kind of gaskets do you guys use? I just put on an o/r H pipe and i get the annoying ticking. Not at idle but when i give it throttle. I will go retighten the bolts to the headers (still stock) again. It sounds like it's coming from there but i don't know. I have a set of FMS shorty headers to put on so i'd like to do it right the 1st time when i put those on.

 

[RBRANDX]

I agree with using good gaskets ( from experience the BBK stockers are junk). Will you be removing the headers from the car completley? If so, I would recommend you check the mounting flange with a straight edge to make sure it has not warped to ensure a proper seal.

 

[olymaster]

your gonna hear more hissing sound under load out your exhaust after off road pipe is put on.

 

[87lc2]

finally getting around to changing the gaskets this weekend. Should i use any high heat rtv on the gaskets or install dry? im assuming i just use the stock replacement fel pros from the parts store, but what is the tourque value on the bolts? and as for the collector, and rtv in there? or dry? TIA

 

[just4bob50]

I used Percy's dead soft aluminum header gaskets and I havent had any problems since then plus you can use them over and over. My pass. side bolts used to back out all of the time, but since using these gaskets I havent had any problems. I had a leak at the collector on the drivers side at the H-pipe. I only found it by letting the car cool completely and I had someone else start the car and rev the engine. I could feel the exhaust hitting my hand where the leak was. I realighned my h-pipe and the leak was gone. I bought the Percy's gaskets at Auto Zone for 29.99.

 

[87lc2]

thanks just4bob50, so no rtv used anywhere?

 

[86bluecobra]

I use rtv on my collector flanges. the key is to bolt headers to h-pipe leave it for 24 hrs to let it set up then fire up car. sealed the leak i had there. also i recommend geting a set of header bolts that have locks on them so they can't back out and blow header gaskets in the future.

 

[fox-gt]

Mine did that after two weeks. New gaskets and locking header bolts fixed it for me.

 

[87lc2]

Wont the super strength lock-tite work just as well as locking bolts? ive used it on everything and never had a problem

 

[just4bob50]

thanks just4bob50, so no rtv used anywhere?

No RTV used for exhaust, all though that was going to be the next step if realignment didnt work.

 

[billpo]

If you switch to a catless H pipe, you will smell the unburned fuel.
I had the same problem. If I knew it was going to be that way, I would have
gone with a high flo catted H pipe.

 

[MUSTANGJOE]

yup ..bbk gaskets are $hit...get some other ones and buy some stage 8 locking bolts. The bolts that come with the bbk shortys suck also!!

 

[jzgt]

I used Percy's dead soft aluminum header gaskets and I havent had any problems since then plus you can use them over and over. My pass. side bolts used to back out all of the time, but since using these gaskets I havent had any problems. I had a leak at the collector on the drivers side at the H-pipe. I only found it by letting the car cool completely and I had someone else start the car and rev the engine. I could feel the exhaust hitting my hand where the leak was. I realighned my h-pipe and the leak was gone. I bought the Percy's gaskets at Auto Zone for 29.99.

I second that - those gaskets work great. Especially if your flanges are not perfect.

Back in the day when I used the paper gaskets (generally supplied with headers), I'd submerge them in water for a little bit, then put them in. During the first heating cycle, the gaskets would seal themselves nicely against the flanges and would generally last for as long as I had the car together

- Jeff

 

[BullittAndy]

Wont the super strength lock-tite work just as well as locking bolts? ive used it on everything and never had a problem

I second this, I had the back bolt (firewall) on the passenger side loosen every couple of weeks creating a noticible exhaust tick. I sealed and resealed the header collector flange 6 times before thinking that it MIGHT be somewhere else (I know, I know). One drop of blue Loctite on this bolt has fixed the problem for two months and I would expect it to hold.