Junk Header Gaskets!!! Now, opinions needed.

Just installed TA's Shorty's on the GS and after 30 miles the el-cheapo white gaskets were blown to bits. I had intended to re-tighten them tomorrow, but they never made it that far. That's ridiculous. So, which would you use? Before I blow more cash, I want your experiences.

 

I bought a used set of headers for my 350 from Craig Ray and I used TA's pink gaskets on the motor and so far have been pleased with them.But,I have only started it for an hour or so since I rebuilt it.So,I guess my vote wont be an accurate onea as what to use.I will tell you this though,Jim W suggested these as did TA .
Pat

 

I used the white TA ones with a very thin layer of high-tenp orange silicone on both sides, with great success.:TU: o No:

I did NOT use their bolts though, I used the ARP 12-point 3/8 head, stainless. Never had to re-torque. I don't know which bolts you are currently using, but I HIGHLY recommend these! I'll NEVER use any others!!:Smarty:

I say just get another set of TA's, and put a VERY THIN LAYER of HIGH TEMP orange RTV on BOTH SIDES. As thin as you can possibly smear on. Don't forget to let it 'skin over' for 5-15 min before installing. And if you are using TA's bolts, seriously consider looking into a set of ARP's. Not sure, but if I remember correctly, I picked these up at my local auto parts store from 'high performance', I mean chevy section.ou:

I had to buy TWO SETS, SB chevy, to get enough! Chevy set is two short....

 

Jeff,

After reading many posts here about the poor quality of the white ones, I am suprised you had good luck with them. I have used several sets on Chebys and just threw them in and torqued down the bolts with no problems for a long while. My TA headers came with 12 point bolts, so maybe they will be sufficient. I may try to use the white ones if most agree with you (majority rules on this one). Thanks guys for the input.

 

TA Pink, only way to go...

And John, those bolts you got are CM ARP with 3/8 12 point heads..

I have tried a lot of different gaskets, keep going back to those TA 825* pink ones.. they seem to have the best mixture of conformability and durablity.

JW

 

Thanks Jim.

 

John,

I can hear folks calling me stupid already but.......

I have had the same gaskets in my racecar with TA headers for a year now. Granted this is in a racecar but to say it doesn't get driven on the street also, well that would just be a lie,lol. Anyways..... I just run the stock type gaskets on mine. I flip them around so the ''tin'' side is towards the head. I ordered a set of 12 point bolts for a BB Chevy(2 extras that way) and have had to tighten them once, MAYBE twice since I put them in. I did run it for a day or so and went back and tightened everything up as needed, but after that nadda.

Dumb luck ?? maybe. But I have done this on every car I have ever had with headers. Mopar, Ford, Chevy......all of them. My theory the first time was ''their just gonna blow out anyways, may as well use the cheap ones and get used to putting them in''. It's worked for me. Good luck...................

 

TA pink 4 me

original set of ta pink have been on my car over 2.5 years, over 12k in mileage. just drove it accross country, ca to ohio, thought if i was gonna have aproblem with anything, headers gaskets might be it, but no problems whatsoever. ill keep buyin them when i need more.

 

I had nothing but trouble with the TA CHEAP gaskets, until I got tired of them and called them up one day to bitch because this was the 3rd set I've blown out, even after retorquing many times.


Dave told me that they stopped using those, and are using a carbon fiber one with a metal core. I bought a set and have installed one so far. It's holding up well...no cracking or warping yet! The other side is still the old paper/junk gasket, but until it blows, I'm not changing it. It's the passenger side.

 

I installed the TA white ones on my 350... Lasted about 2 weeks before chunks were falling out. I switched to the Poston "Mallable aluminum" gaskets. I even cut material on the lower center bolt to slide it in. I have had zero leakage for over a year now. Thumbs up to Poston

 

Same here with me Dave! :TU: Plain white gaskets that is. Yours have a tin side?? Are you refering to "stock" MANIFOLD-style, or are we still talking HEADER-style? Drove on the street every day, and raced whenever possible! Worked great for over a year, and showed no signs of wear really when I tore the engine out to put into another car. (Long story.. .

But then again I did 'cheat' and use the high-temp RTV, for insurance. :Brow: :grin: I feel that I must mention however, that the heads were just freshly machined on the exhaust side! That fact alone coupled with TA's headers PERFECTLY matching the ports prolly had MUCH more to do with the excellent seal that I got!:Smarty:

Good luck, pooods!! Have you checked for straightness, or ever had exhaust side milled?

 

Never had trouble with the el-cheapo's even. I've got a set of cheapo's on my car that have been there 4-years. I'ts not a fluke because this is the third installation I'ts woked with.

Put them on and tighten them up. warm the engine and tighten them again. let it cool and tighten them again. do it again after driving the car a little (preferably no bonzai runs yet). Well, you get the idea, tighten them every time you think about it for the first 10-20 or so heat cycles. Then, run a wrench around them after oil changes just to make sure they're still tight.

I think the key is they shrink alot at least during the first several heat cycles. so you have to be persistant.

 

Well, so far its pink and silver neck and neck. Sounds like a horse race to me. I did have the exhaust side milled and the headers were new, so they both only have 30 miles on them. Guess after hearing you need to tighten on the first 20 heating cycles, I know why they blew. I had planned on 1 or 2 times, not 20. I don't have to order the stock manifold gaskets since I have a new set here, but they are behind in the poll. The poll is the deciding factor. I hate headers, but if you need HP, you deal with them.

 

If you don't get the "cheap" white header gaskets, and you don't mind spending $$ on the best, look at the re-useable soft copper ones!:Smarty:

 

Where to find the soft copper ones, Please? Thanks, Jeff

 

STOCK!

 

soft copper gaskets

 

Running a mix of the T/A white (one side never blew out after 9 years) and those funky tin Felpro manifold gaskets on the other side where the T/A gasket did give up the ghost 4 years ago.

When I bought my T/A headers in '95 they did come with 12 point bolts. I cranked 'em down for a few cycles and have almost always been trouble free.

 

Another set of cheapo whites!!

I've had the cheapo TA whites on my '69 350 car with TA headers for six years now with no problems. I did use red Hi-Temp RTV on both sides on installation and have never had to tighten a bolt! :TU:

 

If you are having constant problems with blowout, etc it may not be the header gasket. Check your header-to-head contact "rings" (the weld beads that stick out towards the head on the head side of the header flange)--if these are uneven at all then you have found the "weak" spots that will constantly blow out. Weld these up and "re-level" the weld bead so it is even with the rest of this raised area.

Copper gaskets are made by SCE---usually you have to do a little work on them on the bolt hole area and also open up the port holes somewhat. I used these and still had leakage problems---it is the "un-levelness" of the raised weld area that is causing the problem. Patton