Stock Exhaust Gaskets w/Headers?

[Ricks70Duster340]

I bought a set of remflex gaskets to use for reattaching my headers after my rebuild. As I was putting them on the header shifted and the gasket slid down and bent... ruining them (yeah, both sides). Very frustrating waste of money.

I do have a set of stock manifold gaskets and am wondering if I could use those or if I need to buy a different type of header gasket?

 

[Kendog 170]

I would think so as long as the porting lines up. Probably won't last long.

 

[mygasser]

smear a little silicon sealer each side of the gaskets and they (almost certainly) won't blow. they don't come loose either as the silicon squeezes around the bolt threads holding them in place. being doing this for years on headers and not had any leak/loosen yet.
neil.

 

[Plymouth 65]

Stock manifold gaskets will not last long. Get some header gaskets and be done with it. 65

 

[AJ/FormS]

My experience is the same as responders 2>4;
stock or cheap gaskets without silicone will not last. I have had some success with hi-temp RTV/silicon yes, but clean up is a pita

I install studs into the end holes of the header flanges of the heads,
then notch my gaskets to fit.
This lets me hang the headers, start the nuts, then drop the high-quality gaskets in last, without sealers..
Easy-peasy.

And yes, I try to use the slanty round, manifold, cup-washers here as well, they just never come loose.

 

[Inertia]

If your headers are Doug's or TTI, the flanges are pretty fair/true, and seal on regular header gaskets very well.
I've always used the header gasket supplied, or Mr. Gaskets with great success, if the flanges are true.
Never needed " Remflex" .

 

[72Duster440]

My Mr Gasket ones lasted just over 20 years. I smacked my collector hard enough on the ground that the header flange moved and the gasket crumbled to pieces. A new Remflex fixed it all up, but probably wasn't needed.

 

[69b7bbgts]

My fenderwell headers are cut through the flange in 2 places in 1 header and 3 in the other, needless to say they don't all cooperate, REM flex was the fix

 

[Ricks70Duster340]

I ended up getting replacement remflex gaskets and all is good. Dumb rookie installation mistake cost me that time. To ensure it did not happen again, I inserted header bolts in each end just a few threads, then slid the gaskets over them after gently notching the end bolt holes on the gaskets. Should have done that the first time.

 

[str12-340]

aren't "stock exhaust gaskets" tin embossed pieces? How would they ever seal a set of headers?

 

[mygasser]

aren't "stock exhaust gaskets" tin embossed pieces? How would they ever seal a set of headers?

no, they're a sandwich of thick foil with what looks like asbestos (or similar) in the middle. they'll crush conforming to slight discrepances in the stock manifolds. unless i'm buying new headers i just use the stock gaskets with a smear of silicon each side. not had header leaks yet. also as the silicon squeezes out around the bolt threads it helps to stop them from backing out so win win.
neil.

 

[1WildRT]

I always cut the excess material out and slot all the bolt holes like the end holes on the pictured gasket.. Then you can start all the bolts a couple threads then drop the gaskets into place...