best header gaskets?

[Joe 1320]

grrrr.....

I've blown the driver's side header gasket and was wondering what the consensus of opinion was as to the best header gaskets. The original stacked steel worked great for the stock manifolds, the shorties use different bolt holes. The last set I used came with some hooker long tubes. They were what appears to be graphite impregnated composite. Did I mention I hate pulling headers?

[fastTa]

Joe, I would just go with the 1406 (d-port) Fel-Pro's.

[Injuneer]

I've had good luck with the Mr. Gasket Copper-Seal header gaskets. You have to start with a flat flange for any of them to work.

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

I like the Earls aluminum with the replaceable graphite inserts. Mine absolutely do not leak or loosen up, and they are reuseable. You don't need to pull the header to install the gasket - it will hang on the end bolt holes. I had the copper ones before, and they are indestructable, but they leaked at the bottom of the port because they were just barely the wrong size for the ports where they needed to seal for some odd reason. I can't remember which brand they were, but keep an eye out for this problem. This was with SLP headers. Also, if you try to reuse them, you need to get them on exactly the same way they came off or they will leak.

[Injuneer]

Were the coppers that leaked the correct D-port for the LT1?

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

Were the coppers that leaked the correct D-port for the LT1?

Yes they were the correct D ports. I still have them (in a box of old parts), and the leak was barely noticeable when they were on the car. It wasn't until I took them off to do the heads that I noticed all the carbon right on the edge of the sealing surface. When I saw that, I took a close look at it and arrived at the conclusion that something wasn't quite fitting correctly and there was a little leakage on the bottom. I have heard of one other person make this same observation, but this was a couple years ago. It could be that a different set of headers would seal just fine on the bottom.

[fastTa]

You know what I did when I just put the Vortec crate motor in my Tahoe. I took both my manifolds over to a local NAPA and they put them on their belt sander(most NAPA's have them) and trued them up a little for me free of charge. Absolutely no leaks and very quiet.

[Joe 1320]

You know what I did when I just put the Vortec crate motor in my Tahoe. I took both my manifolds over to a local NAPA and they put them on their belt sander(most NAPA's have them) and trued them up a little for me free of charge. Absolutely no leaks and very quiet.

hmmm... that's a good idea. It's a little odd that it's the #3/5 that's leaking right along the top of the port.

[Formulaboy95]

Earls Pressure Master p/n: 29DA3BERL
& Stage8 Locking bolts (#8911 ?)

Worth the extra $

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

Joe & Fred - I took a pic of the problem I had with the copper head gaskets and I haven't had time to post the pics on a web, but I will e-mail them to you if you would like. the pictures show where the SLP header opening crossed the raised bead on the bottom sealing surface of the gasket and leaked out the bottom of all the ports. Anyway, I couldn't e-mail them to you as I had planned, but if you are curious what i am talking about, send me an e-mail and I will send the pics over.

[Injuneer]

I understand what you are talking about because it was really close on the JBA headers. Its like the header flange and the head surface just barely catch the edge of the gasket. I haven't had that problem with the AS&M's, so maybe its a problem of running with 1-5/8" primaries or something?

[Joe 1320]

I picked up a set of fel-pro 1406s. They do look like they have a little more meat around the upper portion of the port. Stage 8s going on as well.

[Joe 1320]

Just a follow up...... installed the fel-pro 1406s. These are indeed the correct D port configuration for LT-1s. A much better port seal. Installed stage 8 bolts too. The gaskets come with the end bolt holes slotted. That way you only pull the inside bolts and the gasket slips into place without removal of the header. Nice idea, but I modified them a little further. I slotted the rest of the bolt holes so that of the bolts need to be removed... just loostened. The gasket slides right in and the bolts tightened.

[Kevin - Blown 95 TA]

I understand what you are talking about because it was really close on the JBA headers. Its like the header flange and the head surface just barely catch the edge of the gasket. I haven't had that problem with the AS&M's, so maybe its a problem of running with 1-5/8" primaries or something?

Don't know, but I have 1 3/4" primaries that are larger on the bottom than the gasket bead diameter. Joe has the picture of it - I'm sure he can e-mail it to you if he sees this - it was on all ports.

[Joe 1320]

Joe has the picture of it - I'm sure he can e-mail it to you if he sees this - it was on all ports.

here it is as an attachment.