This is NOT for my car (I have Hooker LT's), but rather for a friend of mine I'm helping with his 97 Z. I'm installing a 255LPH fuel pump and nitrous kit on his heads/cam car next week, and he wants some help fixing the leak.

He's running Felpro 1406 header gaskets, just like I run. Dunno what header bolts. He's tried the copper RTV trick around the primaries w/ no success. This last time, he tightened them so tight a couple started to strip their threads. Usually what ends up happening is the leak goes away for a bit, then ends up coming back.

So, I want to find a permenant solution for him. Stock gaskets? Doubled up gaskets? Perhaps a different gasket that works better w/ those SLP's.

I'm gonna re-tap all of the bolt holes. Mr. Gasket offers what looks like a pretty nice header STUDD setup we may try, though I wonder if the studds will clear all of the primaries, since the primary routing sucks a big one. If he wasn't tapped for cash, I'm sure he'd ditch these damn things for some long tube, but that's not an option.

 

I am using 1406 and they seal perfect with a little bit of rtv... the y pipe is a bitch though. I just ordered some stock gm metal gaskets to see if they will work.

 

you may want to examine the flanges and see if they are warped or something...or if hes got bolts loosening. I just put SLP's on mine, with 1406 gaskets, ARP header bolts and no sealant at all. When I started it up the first time, I drove it around a bit, parked it then retightened all the header bolts (they are really easy to get to for the most part). For that day and the next I checked them regularly (didn't really need to though) and now I'm tightening them once a week (again don't really need to but its better to be safe). I have yet to have a leak anywhere.

 

I installed the 1pc. steel crushable gaskets w/ hooks on the end for easy installation ( no sealant ) GM p/n - 12550033 @ 13.00/e

Have been leak free for close to two-years , also re-torqued the ARP bolts about a month after the install.

 

I assume he's using the SLP dual cat headers for his 97? I have the single cat style and I used 1" ARP bolts instead of the 3/4" SLP included in their kit. I think the 1" really reduce the chance of overtightening and stripping the head, if he's not using the longer bolts I'd get some. Also I used the Felpro 1406 gaskets and I have not had any problems with leaks for over a year now, I do go back over them every couple months or so to recheck them.

 

I had leaking problems when using the 1406's with my SLP shorties. I pulled those out and installed a set of Earls and haven't had a leak in over two years.

-Tony

 

I use the GM stock 94 gaskets

they are three lyar metel and fairly cheep too i dont know what list is but if you know someone they are cheep

all you have to do is trim of some metel tabs to work with headers


P/N 12552469