I am considering LT Headers and Y-Pipe. I have not decided on a brand yet.

More importantly than the brand - I want to ensure that they do not leak over time (huge irritation to me). The stock manifolds have 100k on them with no leaks. I only wish to install the headers once and I want to do it right. Can this type of reliability be expected from LT headers?

What is the best hardware (fasteners), gaskets etc. to use?

Also please mention anything else that can ensure longevity and performance.

Thanks.

 

Kooks part number 6400S use a slip on collector (included and so are the gaskets for the head) and are made of 304 stainless.

Get these bolts. http://www.jegs.com/cgi-bin/ncommerc...24&prmenbr=361

 

The instructions for whatever brand you pick will say to attatch headers to heads loosely and the to y-pipe and then tighten it all up. My Mac y-pipe tried to pull my headers collectors together, putting stress on the flanges at the heads. So I bolted up the headers tight and then made the y-pipe fit perfectly to the collectors. No leaks in over a year with Mac copper gaskets dry. Check the torque on standard header bolts often the 1st 2 weeks, mine loosened up 6-7 times before they stayed tight after heat cycling.

 

I'm kind of partial to the Breslin header bolts and Earl's header gaskets. If you just want to do it once, this is the way to go.

Ryan

 

Good Information

What's the longest I could expect (from your personal experiance) to go without leaking?

 

Stage 8 bolts and Earl's gaskets. Headers went on about 3 years ago. No leaks ever.

 

Three Years is pretty good. The sooner I can assure myself that they will not leak the sooner I Will install the LTs.

 

More ?

 

Where can I get the Earls gaskets and stage 8 bolts?

 

Summit has them. www.summitracing.com

 

I've got some Q's as well- should I put copper gasket maker on my felpro multilayer steel gaskets? Pacesetter said to use some but they supplied me with cheap worthless paper gaskets.
- There's a few dimples on the flanges where there must have been something on it during coating. Should I try to clear those off where there will be gasket sitting, or does it really matter?
- I bought some ARP stainless header bolts, but they're 3/4" long (threaded portion), will those be long enough to use with a 3/8" flange? (Pacesetter sent 1" ones.)
- When you guys took the stock manifolds off, how bad was the metal underneath? Will I be spending 2 hours cleaning off old gasket or will it just fall right off?

I'm hoping to get this all done in one day this weekend or next, but I don't want to get stuck out there in the dark with a floodlamp like I had to do for my gear install. Drilling noises from underneath a car in a parking lot in the dark at an apartment complex attract a lot of attention.

 

You can find the Stage 8 locking header bolts and Felpro gaskets here...

http://www.thunderracing.com/catalog...&vid=4&pcid=54

 

Thanks for all the replies thus far.

Had a suggestion that I had never concidered mentioned to me today. To use New Factory Gaskets. ---What do you think ?