Hey - I did a search but did not see this one.

I have the alternator out to install a new pass. side header gasket (leak) and would like to heat cycle the gasket and re-tighten the bolts two or three times before re-installing everything.

Here is the dumb question: Can I start and run the car for five or ten minutes just off the battery (i.e. no alternator installed) - then retighten the header bolt?

I would probably connect the battery charger during this time the car is running and afterward to charge the battery back up.

I assume that the car would probably throw a code (which I would clear), but would I cause any actual damage to the car (and would it run for five or ten minutes as I am suggesting)?

Thanks for the input.

 

hook it up to jumpers, it will drain a battery pretty quick but it wont hurt anything

 

I did mine with everything hooked up and had no trouble having the alternator hooked up. I think you drive the car for a bit between tightening. I thought it was days between and not minutes.

 

I just thought it would be easier to run the engine to get the headers hot - say five to ten minutes of idling (maybe a bit of revving, just cause it's fun), then let it cool enough to tighten the bolts (maybe speed up the cool-down with a fan). I would do that a total of three times then tighten periodically over the next few weeks. This will be quite a bit easier if I leave the alternator off for this phase - that's why I was hoping to do it this way

Last time I did the header gasket, i tried the Percy's locking header bolts and they still leaked, then the bolts were a fricken' bear to get out. I will go back to regular 12-point/1-inch header bolts and try the heat cycling.

I am using Earl's Pressure Seal gaskets (with the replaceable inserts). They have sealed better than anything else, but I am still replacing the gasket (again). It's always the cyl. 8 exhaust port (because that is the hardest to get to, of course. I should probably go to long tubes but that will have to wait.

Do you think I could get a header leak on the driver's side where things are accessible? Of course not - it has to be on the worst part of the engine.

 

You could run it if you have a booster or charger hooked up. Be very careful with the hot wire for the alternator being loose and the battery connected though. Will cause some nice sparks if it touches ground.

Also if your header gaskets keep blowing you likely have a warped flange on the header or head. I'm on the same set of header gaskets installed 5 years ago. Might be worthwhile to get a strait edge and feeler gauge on the flanges.

 

I would be very careful doing this...to the point of not doing it. The easy way to kill you pcm is to subject it to a surge and this looks like a way to generate one.

Why do you think you need three heat cycles to secure the bolts? It isn't necessary. If you're worried about the bolts loosening over time, try a set of Stage 8 locking bolts.