Akkk-Header Gaskets

[Nick ALFANO <71amx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Kim,

Not sure what kind of gaskets you are using, but if
they are a high quality set and you are still having
leaks, try this out.  Take some hi temp RTV (the
orange stuff) and place a bead around each port on
both side of the gasket.  Install like normal but let
it set up for a day before you start it up.  Once
cured, run it up to operating temp, cool down and then
up to temp again.  Make sure you run it around town
for a bit.  Once you have done that, tighten the bolts
again while it is still hot.  That should cure any
header leaks and also help keep your bolts from
backing out.  If they still back out, the sell washers
that lock header bolts in place.

Nick Alfano


From: <mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: mail@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Akkk-Header Gaskets
Date: Mon, 13 Jun 2005 14:22:33 -0400
Message-id: <42adcee9.283.1ae8.2626@xxxxxxxxx>

This weekend on Saturady I take the Gremlin out early
in the morning to 
get a new stereo installed. Three quarters of
the way there, a strange sound emits from the engine
compartment. I 
pull over and it is as I feared, header bolts have
worked loose, I have no wrench in hand, the header
gasked is defintelty 
blown.

Yesterday I bought a set of header gaskets, the new
kind, not paper, I 
spent 3 and 1/2 hours installing one side, put
all the plug wires back on, reconnect the battery and
start it up - 
akkk, it still is ticking! Not as bad as before, but
it is still obvious I have a header leak.

On installation I tightened the bolts from the middle
to the outside.

What did I do wrong, I have done this before (with
paper gaskets) and 
they worked fine, any suggestions from people on
the list?

Thanks in advance,
Kim Bueler

'75 Gremlin X 360 V8