Help: Leaky headers

Thunderwood

New member
Apr 5, 2014
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Warrensburg, MO / North AR
I bought a set of headers from company that I now cannot reach. They look great but they leak and I put a set of Remflex gaskets on and they didn't help. Any suggestions or information would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks, Segan
 

Hot COCOAL

May the farce be with you
Jun 9, 2012
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You might be able to get them milled, but you gotta be careful not to take too much off and screw with the bolt hole lining up properly for the up-pipes
 

PACougar

Active member
Jun 27, 2012
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El Dorado Hills, Ca
Take them to a machine shop and have them deck the mating surface so they're true. Unless the flanges are warped by a huge amount you should be fine. Worst case scenario, you enlarge the bolt holes a small amount if the fit is that tight.
 

Hot COCOAL

May the farce be with you
Jun 9, 2012
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^^^what he said^^^

Just cuz I'm curious...
Are they a cast manifold like PPE's or RDL's or are they log style and how thick is the flange material? If the flange isn't thick enough to begin with I'd be a little apprehensive about using them for fear they'd just warp again
 

PACougar

Active member
Jun 27, 2012
2,105
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El Dorado Hills, Ca
^^^what he said^^^

Just cuz I'm curious...
Are they a cast manifold like PPE's or RDL's or are they log style and how thick is the flange material? If the flange isn't thick enough to begin with I'd be a little apprehensive about using them for fear they'd just warp again

Good question, can you post some pictures of these things?
 

Thunderwood

New member
Apr 5, 2014
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Warrensburg, MO / North AR
here they are

attachment.php
 

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Burn Down

Hotrodder
Sep 14, 2008
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Boise Idaho
They look to be quality. My guess is they got them a little warm while welding, warped them a touch. As Cougar and Cocoa mentioned, take them to a machine shop and have them decked. I would use the stock steel gasket as well, Im not familiar with the gaskets you mentioned.
 

Hot COCOAL

May the farce be with you
Jun 9, 2012
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Those look pretty nice :)

Are they leaking from the two rear most ports/cylinders #7/8?

It could just be my perception of the pic, but it looks like there's a slight taper there toward the back of the manifold...
 

Thunderwood

New member
Apr 5, 2014
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Warrensburg, MO / North AR
OK guys, will do. Unless I just buy a set of Rick's instead. I really appreciate the advice from all of you. Now we need to start placing bets on how long this bottom end is gonna last! Hopefully I make it longer than Cocoal did on a similar setup! (no offense bud)
 

Hot COCOAL

May the farce be with you
Jun 9, 2012
4,433
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. Now we need to start placing bets on how long this bottom end is gonna last! Hopefully I make it longer than Cocoal did on a similar setup! (no offense bud)

Hahaha
None taken sir!

I hope yours lasts longer too:thumb:
Not something I'd wish for anyone...

I wasn't to kind (or smart) with mine, it saw 2000* numerous times before it gave
:rolleyes:
 

clrussell

pro-procrastinator
Sep 23, 2013
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Yep like he said they are leaking at 1-2 cyls. Factory gaskets leaked pretty badly. I'll get em pulled off hopefully this weekend and check the flange with a straight edge. The flange is pretty beefy like 3/8" I think.

Thanks for the input guys, this thing should be fun if we ever get it done and while it lasts!
 

clrussell

pro-procrastinator
Sep 23, 2013
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Well I've finally had a chance to pull the headers off. This is the driver side. It was leaking at the rear port. I guess we should have laid the gaskets on them before we put em on the truck. There is a 1/4" gap at the rear port where the flange hole isn't in the correct spot.

On the factory manifolds / up pipes go..

vydaqybe.jpg

yzy4ehy4.jpg
 

clrussell

pro-procrastinator
Sep 23, 2013
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