How hard is it to change a header gasket?

[Twista]

Passenger Side is blown on mine. Loose header bolts eventually killed the gaskets no matter how much i re-tighten them weekly.

What do i have to remove? Do i have to loosen up the entire exhaust system (catback-midpipe-etc)

Can it be done with the engine in the car?


Or should i just take it to a shop.

Thank.

 

[ryclef331]

If you still have a smog pump on there, its gonna suck...but its not impossible. I used to blow them at a rediculous rate launching at the track at 6 grand. I replace just the blow ports on my car in the pits and got it down to a science. My tips below.

1. Use Mr. Gasket Ultra Seals or OEM Gaskets....ONLY.
2. Use a combo of allen head and reg. bolt head bolts to secure the headers. Put which ever style is easiest to install in its respective location (i.e. sometimes its a bitch to get a wrench on the bolt but a straight shot with an allen key is a snap)
3. Use RED Rtv Silicone around the ports on the gaskets. Let them tack up for 20 minutes, THEN install them. Snug down the bolts from the center out....SNUG not TIGHT. wait about 40 minutes, then crank'em down.
4. ALWAYS RE TQ THE BOLTS!!!
5. Drop the gaskets in by putting in the most forward and reward bolts loosely to hang the header. The gaskets should be slotted to allow them to slide in between the header and head.

As for pulling that header, you should be able to pull it back enough just by loosening the collector.

 

[94 DropTop]

I never even loosed the collector. I just removed the header from the head and had enough room. I also used copper gasket sealer. Its very easy.

 

[Twista]

^^ Thanks for the replies.
Pretty much since i see whats involved. Is this job okay for a noob :dontknow:

From what i know there is no smog equipment at all. There is a huge bolt that the previous owner put in the back of the engine so im guessing its gone.

 

[Twista]

So i just bascially..

1. remove all the old bolts
2. pull header back.
3. remove bad gasket
4. Do the stuff ryclef said.
5. Re-install new bolts

Im good?

 

[Venom351R]

[/quote]

If you still have a smog pump on there, its gonna suck...but its not impossible. I used to blow them at a rediculous rate launching at the track at 6 grand. I replace just the blow ports on my car in the pits and got it down to a science. My tips below.

1. Use Mr. Gasket Ultra Seals or OEM Gaskets....ONLY.
2. Use a combo of allen head and reg. bolt head bolts to secure the headers. Put which ever style is easiest to install in its respective location (i.e. sometimes its a b*tch to get a wrench on the bolt but a straight shot with an allen key is a snap)
3. Use RED Rtv Silicone around the ports on the gaskets. Let them tack up for 20 minutes, THEN install them. Snug down the bolts from the center out....SNUG not TIGHT. wait about 40 minutes, then crank'em down.
4. ALWAYS RE TQ THE BOLTS!!!
5. Drop the gaskets in by putting in the most forward and reward bolts loosely to hang the header. The gaskets should be slotted to allow them to slide in between the header and head.

As for pulling that header, you should be able to pull it back enough just by loosening the collector.

Thanks for those tips, I'll be redoing mine as well

 

[Twista]

Do i have to loosen the flange bolts @ the bottom of the car? THe ones that go from the SHorty Headers to the Midpipe.

Or can they stay tight?

And does the car have to be jacked up in any place?

 

[slb94Cobra#3318]

Do i have to loosen the flange bolts @ the bottom of the car? THe ones that go from the SHorty Headers to the Midpipe.

Or can they stay tight?

And does the car have to be jacked up in any place?

No jacking and they can stay tight.

 

[Slykin]

When I replaced mine I just unbolted the headers, threw some new gaskets in, and bolted it down. Only minimal amount of swearing on the rear bolts.

 

[Twista]

Thanks guys. Going to do it today. =]

 

[mygreengt]

bah i need to do this on my modular. idk how to even get at it

 

[Twista]

Thanks got the old gasket out.. its flat and metal so maybe the material on it burned away.
Going to tackle installign the new one.


Ill let you guys know the results

 

[Twista]

CRAP.

On which side does the RTV go on. I put rtv on the side towards the headers. I left the side facing the engine bare with no RTV.

Am i suppose to do both sides? Im letting the rtv dry now

edit: All done. Ill letting them sit for 40 minutes snug then ill go tighten it fully

 

[Twista]

Got everything back together. Ill buy the stage 8 locking bolts next paycheck.

But she is fixed. No leak @ all now.

Thanks guys

On a scale of 1-10 (10 being hardest)

The passenger side i give a 1 for being easy.
I only removed the air intake piping and left everything together (strut bar and all)

The driver side looks nasty on the 5.0. I'll make sure to keep that side tight.

 

[ItsASleeperTillItStartsUp]

Passenger Side is blown on mine. Loose header bolts eventually killed the gaskets no matter how much i re-tighten them weekly.

What do i have to remove? Do i have to loosen up the entire exhaust system (catback-midpipe-etc)


Can it be done with the engine in the car?


Or should i just take it to a shop.

Thank.

Mine has blown out on just the passenger side like 3 or 4 times. So finally I bought the best of the best gaskets and took like 2 or 3 of them with gasket maker (comes in a tube like cocking but high heat resistant) and used that to glue them together to make what I thought of at the time as a Super Header Gasket. So far it has been at least over a year and still no terrible sounding header leak. It was really bad anytime I would really get on the car over the course of a few weeks it would finally it really ugly sounding like a redneck pickup.

It was really frustrating having to take tear apart the engine bay (throttle body, CAI setup, etc) everytime I would finally get fed up with the sound and want to fix it back to the clear sound out the tail pipes, like the day I brought her home for the first time. It is pretty simple in my opinion as far as repairs but fix it right the first time.

 

[ItsASleeperTillItStartsUp]

oh yea and be sure to tighten after you have driven the car around for a day or so. If you don't expect those leaks to comeback and if left unnoticed will be a bigger fix to get the sound and performance you used to have.

 

[ItsASleeperTillItStartsUp]

bah i need to do this on my modular. idk how to even get at it

Where you live? I would do it for you for free. Easy to do with the right tools and hands and fingers of a mechanic help.

 

[mygreengt]

Iowa.

 

[Twista]

oh yea and be sure to tighten after you have driven the car around for a day or so. If you don't expect those leaks to comeback and if left unnoticed will be a bigger fix to get the sound and performance you used to have.

Ya, i been checking on it after every drive cool-off so far. Till i get the the stage 8 locking nuts,... trust me i will be checking. The car sounds like a mustang again and that makes it worth it to check lol.

 

[ItsASleeperTillItStartsUp]

Iowa.

Yea that is a little out of my way..lol sorry I could not physically help you at the time...