I just finished up installing SLP shorties mated to a Random Tech Y pipe, and the driver's side flange is leaking. I bought the headers used, and tried to straighten the flange out as best I could, but it must not have been good enough because it is leaking.

What are some ways to get this to seal? I thought about getting another gasket and putting a thick coat of copper RTV on it, or doubling up the gaskets, or maybe getting some thick gasket material and making my own gasket.

Anyone ever try these ideas, or have any others I can try?

Thanks,
Thomas.

 

I bought my headers new and discovered several months later that one of the flanges was warped. Using RTV, doubling up on the gaskets, or making your own gaskets are all band-aids, they don't really fix the problem. The bottom line is you really need to have the flange machined, I took mine to a machine shop and they got it straight for $30. Just make sure you take it to a reputable machine shop, they can end up messing them up even more if they're not careful. As far as gaskets go, try Fel-Pro, even though one of my flanges is still slightly off, it doesn't leak with the Fel-Pro gasket in there.

 

I ended up getting some Fel-pro gasket material and making a gasket the same size/shape as the stock one. Then I put copper RTV on both sides of both gaskets, and pressed them together. This 'double gasket with RTV' seems to have worked, as it is no longer leaking

Thomas.