I have a 98 F-150 with a 4.6L V8. The story is long and complicated, I bought the truck used with 54,500Km on it and later discovered that the truck had headers I thought this was a good thing now I have 67,000Km and the gaskets are going and getting worse it may be a case of tightning but I dont think so. I want it done right anyway with new gaskets even it it costs $200 to install. Now the next problem, nobody can find me gaskets!!! My local UAP dealer, Canadian Tire, NO ONE!! What do I do they tell me the truck is to new and they don't make the gaskets yet but somebody must. HELP!! As well when a header gasket is going or if they need tightning what kind of noise do they make??

 

Regalman; The first thing you have to do is find out what make of headers they are.then get on the web and locate the maker.Then go from there. You could try Summit racing they have about everything you could imagin.But if the bolts have been tighten that much you may have an even greater problem.the torque value is very slight,like 13 to16 ft lbs...So be very careful when thighten them down. Goodluck OLDGRAY

 

I havent tightened them because I just want to fix it right the first time. But tell me I took the wheel off so I could get a real good look at it and at 2 of the bolt heads I can see like a black carbon build up around the bolt area and looks as if the gasket has actually been blown out the top a little. Now as well what kind of noise do you get when gaskets are going??? And does it get worse the longer you wait?? And is it hard on the motor and make you loose a bit of power. Last thing how do I find out what kind of headers they are??