header leaks

Are there any tricks to stopping header leaks? I've installed them twice and
still have small leaks around 3 holes. It's a 304 in my cj7 with hedman
headers. The first time I used the foil gaskets and my mechanic friend told
me to use paper. SO I removed and installed the headers using the paper
gaskets that came with them. I ran it for ~100 miles and retorqued the bolts
and still have leaks.

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_____________________
HomeBrewer
76-81-85CJ7
http://85cj7.blogspot.com/
All in one Jeep

HomeBrewer did pass the time by typing:
> Are there any tricks to stopping header leaks? I've installed them twice and
> still have small leaks around 3 holes. It's a 304 in my cj7 with hedman
> headers. The first time I used the foil gaskets and my mechanic friend told
> me to use paper. SO I removed and installed the headers using the paper
> gaskets that came with them. I ran it for ~100 miles and retorqued the bolts
> and still have leaks.

All surfaces have to be flat and free of any carbon traces or crud. A light
scrubbing with a brillopad will help clean up the surface. Any appreciable
warp in the head or header mating surface will cause leaks that can only be
fixed by having the surfaces decked. Old (over stressed) bolts will also
cause a problem. Sometimes it takes two or three trips around to get the
gasket seated.

I use a metal/carbon style gasket and they make ones with built-in gasket rings.
A tiny bit of form-a-gasket copper smeared around will help with minor scratches
and low-spots.

Remember when your getting the gasket setteled in, don't rev the engine.
Just let it toodle around till it gets warm, then retorque in the proper
sequence.

Took me four times over a week to get things settled on my I6


--
-- DougW -- 93 ZJ 4.0 http://members.cox.net/wilsond
HESCO Supercharger - 300W IASCA Stereo - Edelbrock IAS Shocks
Gibson Exhaust - rear DCpower - custom gauge install - Stillen Rotors
Banks Header - and BEER, in the fridge!

Try and run the headers through a few thermal cycles even if they leak a
bit (Don't push it if there is a major leak or you will erode the flange
surface.) Take them off and bring them to your favorite automotive
machine shop and have them run them over the surface grinder to get them
ABSOLUTELY flat. Reinstall with some decent foil covered gaskets, warm
them up at idle a couple times, retorque, retorque again at 500 or so
miles.

HomeBrewer wrote:
> Are there any tricks to stopping header leaks? I've installed them twice and
> still have small leaks around 3 holes. It's a 304 in my cj7 with hedman
> headers. The first time I used the foil gaskets and my mechanic friend told
> me to use paper. SO I removed and installed the headers using the paper
> gaskets that came with them. I ran it for ~100 miles and retorqued the bolts
> and still have leaks.
>

I take a large file and plane them, many imperfection will show up,
even with the best of headers, Hooker:
http://www.holley.com/HiOctn/ProdLine/Hooker.html And I use the special
grade eight bolts that use a smaller socket size, twelve sided flange
head:
http://static.summitracing.com/globa...p-400-1201.jpg
So I will always have room for the wrench, knowing some my torque isn't
used up against the header. And of course, retorque warm, for the first
couple of times, then once a week until they no longer tighten.
God Bless America, ßill O|||||||O
http://www.billhughes.com/

HomeBrewer wrote:
>
> Are there any tricks to stopping header leaks? I've installed them twice and
> still have small leaks around 3 holes. It's a 304 in my cj7 with hedman
> headers. The first time I used the foil gaskets and my mechanic friend told
> me to use paper. SO I removed and installed the headers using the paper
> gaskets that came with them. I ran it for ~100 miles and retorqued the bolts
> and still have leaks.
>
> --
> _____________________
> HomeBrewer
> 76-81-85CJ7
> http://85cj7.blogspot.com/
> All in one Jeep

When I installed my Borla header on my 258, the guy that sold me the header
put it on a huge flatbed sander to true the flange surface. I installed the
header sans gasket almost 5 years ago and it does not leak. When it first
went on the sander, the low spots were further away than the gasket is
thick, guaranteed to leak when this happens. I suspect you have similar
issues.




"HomeBrewer" > wrote in message
...
> Are there any tricks to stopping header leaks? I've installed them twice
and
> still have small leaks around 3 holes. It's a 304 in my cj7 with hedman
> headers. The first time I used the foil gaskets and my mechanic friend
told
> me to use paper. SO I removed and installed the headers using the paper
> gaskets that came with them. I ran it for ~100 miles and retorqued the
bolts
> and still have leaks.
>
> --
> _____________________
> HomeBrewer
> 76-81-85CJ7
> http://85cj7.blogspot.com/
> All in one Jeep
>
>

A. use header studs
B. use a copper gasket

Works on my 87GW with 360. Almost a year with no leaks.


Mr. Bill
at a 4 way stop.....the vehicle with the largest wheels has the right of way
My Jeep is not an SUV....your SUV is not a Jeep