I just put on new gaskets/bolts the bolts are locking header bolts and the gaskets are the thing metal ones that come in 3 pieces per side. anyway on both sides i have an exhaust leak i have the bolts tight as i can get them and i even put two gaskets on the one side and i still have the exhaust leak. Its only in the middle two exhaust ports. If you have any ideas please tell me them as i am about to drive my car into a telephone pole!!

 

How clean head surface was? Something is not flat, more probably the header mounting surface. I'd try softer gaskets like Felpro's, but if surfaces are a way out of flat, header may need some work.

 

Pull the header back and put a straight edge on the flange. It sounds like it is high on the middle two exhaust ports. Start all the bolts, but tighten down the middle two first. That might cure the problem.

 

Thanks alot and i cant get one of the headers off because one of my $40 headers bolts is stuck in the head and when i tried to loosen it the bolt just stripped from the pressure.

 

Well, either both your header flanges are not straight or your gaskets suck. To begin with you will need to get hold of that bolt with a "good" set of vice grips and unscrew while pulling out...the easiest way to remove a bolt is to "think", i.e. stop and think what you need to do, including moving crap out of the way to get at it.

If it's just the gaskets, I'd use the fel pros which are one piece rather than separate pieces.

I'd personally get some ARP 1" stainless bolts and get rid of those lockers...if you are using less than 1" bolts that maly also be your problem because if the flanges are too thick for the length of the bolts you;ve got too little to grab to tighten the bolts...so go with 1" bolts. Pick up some ARP stainless...maybe the 12pt bolts because they have small heads.

If you remove all the bolts except the boogered one and pull on the header at the same time you are unscrewing it, that also might be an option.

Bottom line: it sounds to me like your bolts are too short and your gaskets suck. JMHO

 

Are the threads stripped, or the head of the bolt rounded off?

 

the head of the bolt is stripped and its in there really tight. I also went outside to compare the gaskets that came with the LT's and the ones my dad gave me to put on and the exhaust port hole in the gaskets are smaller than the pacesetter gaskets so im sure thats the problem thanks alot for the input and if u have any ideas how to get that one bolt out(2nd to the rear of the car on the drivers side) please tell me cuz im out of ideas. Also i am looking at getting head work done does anyone no of a good place to send my heads and should i do anything else to the engine before i install reworked heads. someone told me i should change the piston rings but i'm not sure if i have too.

 

If you can't get a good hold of the bolt with vise grips, try grinding the head off with a Dremel. Then you can pull the header back and put the vise grips on the stub.
When using new header bolts, put a dab of high temp anti seize on the treads to prevent what you're going thru now. I used ARP stainless steel 1" bolts for mine. They never loosened up except for gasket compression. Years later, I check them occasionally and still tight.

 

Get that bolt out yet? If you can't get hold of it with V grips, a dremmel with a saw blade will notch the bolt head and you can use a flat-blade screw driver (maybe)----however, it has been my experience that Vice Grips are a man's best friend in situations like this.JMHO

 

http://www.eportworks.com/Products.htm

 

I use the stock manifold gaskets. It takes a few minutes with some snips to get them to fit, but I've never had them leak on me. There are a few ppl I know running the stock gaskets with headers and none them have problems. Just food for thought.

 

don't forget - a leaking y-pipe/collector can sound like it's coming from the middle two ports from the top of the car. Go under the car, and use a long tube to probe around for leaks.

good luck! I am fighting an exhaust leak myself right now - my camaro had them, now my t/a has them. headers suck

 

I put my finger around the header and could feel the air on both sides of the headers in the middle 2 tubes. I bought a wrench that should help take the bolt out. Now i'm wondering if i need to take the head off should i just get them ported/polished if i do how much will that run me i can get them on/off myself so i just need to send them somewhere. If anyone knows anywhere in MN that does a good job please tell me as i'm looking for an excuse to borrow my parents money to do it If i do get the heads done how much more hp would i be looking at? thanks for all the input so far.

 

ok it looks like i'll be getting the LE1 heads/cam with my current set-up what kind of #'s should i be getting. My dad is going to borrow me the money because he's 90% at fault for it being ****ed up and needing the new heads so maybe he'll f*** up when we put them back on and i can get a blower. He also wants to rebuild the motor i think it would be a good idea too as it has 115,000 miles on it what do u guys think?