Best sealing header gaskets

Moostang313

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I’m looking to purchase bbk ceramic headers + catted x pipe. What’s your experience with leaks and think are the best gaskets?


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Do you think the supplied bbk gaskets are up to par?


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msvela448

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Percy's dead-soft aluminum gaskets have always been good for me.

https://www.carid.com/percys-high-performance/seal-4-good-exhaust-header-gaskets-mpn-66081.html

And I've always checked every set of headers to make sure the flange is flat... Haven't found a single one yet that didn't need sanding / machining / filing to get them flat. BBK, Kooks, MAC, Pypes, etc.. Every single brand I've used needed correction before installing. A good local machinist can assist you with making sure the flange is flat.

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Moostang313

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Msvela that makes sense. Flat surfaces are most important for sealing. I’m really debating on leaving stock manifolds on and just installing catted xpipe.


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msvela448

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Does yourself a favor, and install brand new FoMoCo oem gaskets.
The stock exhaust manifolds have a machined surface, and the cylinder head exhaust ports are a machined surface, so the stock multi-layer steel gaskets are well suited to sealing those two up.

BUT

Aftermarket headers aren't machined on the flange and might only be put on a belt sander at best from the manufacturer. Every aftermarket header I've seen appears to have a laser cut (maybe waterjet) flange that they then weld the pipes into. It is likely the welding process that warps the flange.

In fact, when I called Kooks about thiers not being flat they literally told me to send them back so they could throw them on a belt sander. I chose to have a machinist do it locally for only slightly more than my return shipping costs would have been.

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nawagner

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It’s my understanding that the Ford header gaskets are best

I second that

Not only my understanding, it’s my experience, along with many others.

Do not mess with anything other than Ford OEM gaskets. Trust me, the posts before me, and the 30 other threads on this and other forums. They are also not that expensive. Headers are a b&*%h! You only want to mess with them once!
 

Moostang313

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Jewc, are u saying that headers are an endless leaking pain in the ass? Lol... The last car I had headers on (72 Chevelle big block) They seemed to need constant attention. I thought maybe new technology eliminated the leaks. I now have back issues and just can’t spend that kind of time under the hood.


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RED09GT

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On the 3V's the OEM gaskets are excellent. I would imaging that the coyote is the same.

My favorite for a SBF is Permatex Ultra Copper RTV. This is the only way I could get my Kooks headers to seal on my fox body.
 
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Racer47

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I also went with stock. Although, I did put a very thin coat of ultra copper on out of habit. No problems even many years later
 

Rich Grundza

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I had the short tube headers on for three years, just went to Kooks. Used bbk gaskets and they were fine., except that pass side blew out. Not gaskets fault though. When I went to unbolt the cat, the stud on the inside broke. We couldn't punch it out so we drilled it and welded a ss nut to the back side of the cat. It held fine until I put the blower on the car, then it began to leak. Replaced the cat on that side and used the ford gasket and it worked. Bottom line either OEM or BBK gaskets will work fine.
 

Rick Simons

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I know a local muffler guy that only uses ultra copper silicone, no gaskets, and he swears he's had no comebacks since he started doing that. He says the secret is to apply the silicone as far away from the center of the port as you can, that way the amount of heat the silicone is exposed to is minimized. Makes sense I guess. I'm using the embossed gaskets that came with the headers came and a light coat of the ultra copper silicone.
 

JEWC_Motorsports

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Not at all. The stock gasket are MLS gaskets, best on the market. No reason to mess around with what works.
 

MasterofDisaster

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I installed BBK ceramic coated shorties about 18 months ago. I used the gaskets supplied in the box. They seal fine.

Recommend using a Scotch Brite pad on an oscillating tool to clean up the head surface. Given the limited room, I was surprised to find that a Bosch oscillating tool would fit, but it worked like a champ. Even some crap you bought at Habor Freight would probably make your life a lot easier. Don't apply too much pressure. Don't hold it on the aluminum too long. Don't use too aggressive a pad.
 

s197 OrangeBoi

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I used the supplied gaskets that came with my BBK long tube headers and haven’t had any issues at all.
 

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