I called the shop about a new gasket and they asked me what shape do they need to be. Any ideas? 95 LTl with headers.

 

stvski80085:
The stock head casting's exhaust ports are "D" shaped. I've used the copper gaskets. No leaks, no problems.

 

Thanks that is what I thought but wanted to make sure. It looks like it will be a real pita to do this. There is no way to get to the back bolt. I even tried to reach from under the car and can't get to it. On the top there is a hose that loops around into the header and sticks up a lot. I don't know if i can do this thing or not. I wonder how much it costs to have it done. This sucks. i have all the parts but don't want to start something I can't finish.

 

It is very possible to get to all of the bolts. I did it in my garage with my big *** hands...lol

 

I'd recommend a Fel-Pro or Percy header gasket. The back bolts are the hard ones, try a swivel socket.

 

I'm gonna give it a whirl. From what I read it said to start the back and front then drop the gasket in. Do they really just mean to put the gasket in and start the front and back bolts first? Do I need to take the valve cover off to get to the back bolt? I'm only doing the passenger side that is leaking. i will check the other too though and see what kinda shape it's in.

 

It sounds like what you read is this : When installing the headers, get the very back and the very front bolt started. Meaning thread them in about five rotations. Once you have those two bolts started, drop the gasket down onto the two bolts in between the head and headers. The two bolts hold the gasket in place to make things easier.

I know the Fel-Pro gaskets have the holes on each end open like a horseshoe to make this possible.

 

This is the Fel-Pro gasket:

http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku

You can see the hooks on the sides. What you do is thread two header bolts into the FAR front and FAR back holds, as these are what the header gasket hooks onto. These holes are not used by headers, they are for the stock manifolds. Then you hold the header up to the head and thread in the front and back bolts through the header and gasket. After that you can remove the two bolts that were holding up the gasket and finish bolting up the header.

 

Thanks for all the help. I got all the bolts out and the front and back pipe move a little but the middle two won't open enough to let me get a gasket in there. Anyone have any idea's. I realy don't want to take loose all the exhaust to get this thing in. i need some way of pushing the header away from the block a bit. Any help before tom morning would be great. So far it was much easier than i thought but I need to get the header loose and moved back a quarter inch or so. Thanks for everything so far. little more to go.

 

Got it done. Now just to make sure they stay tight over the next couple heat cycles. Thanks for all the help.