What is the deal with the ford gaskets? Do the Ford performance header gaskets for our engines come as one peice or two? Is the part number different? I know the oem gaskets are four pieces, two per side. Can I use the old ones or is it best to replace them?

Is there a better gasket out there I can use instead? I know someone said the oem gaskets are made by Cometics and are the best option. Is this true? I plan on installing Stage 8 Header bolts and want to replace the gaskets at the same time.

Thanks

 

i'd like to get some info on header gaskets. That's the one flaw i've ever had with a JDM product is the header and collector gaskets. 3 trucks i know that installed them, all have leaked. I have a leak on my passenger side now that I think may be causeing some of my problems with my wide band showing lean.

 

I use the stock gaskets on my longtubes......


When I had first installed the longtubes, I used one aftermarket gasket and one stock gasket.. ( dont ask why LOL!)

But the aftermarket one ended up blowing out first

Then I replaced it with a stock gasket and didnt have a problem......

Now the collector gaskets thats a different story.....

 

HI!... I only run the FORD header gaskets. I'm not sure if there the Ford Motorsports unit though. Part # M-9448-A462. They come ONE per package. The problem with people blowing headers gaskets usually isn't the gasket it'self but how the people install them. I always install mine and do up the bolts pretty tight. Then right away I run the engine up to operating temp and then let cool. I then re-tighten all the header bolts again. Then I go for a drive, usually run some errans or such. Let cool down over night and re-tighten again the next day. Then I got for a few days of driving and re-tighten again. I go through this process for about a week untill I find that the bolts no longer need re-tightening. I leave my inner fender wells out this entire time to make it easier to get to the bolts. I have been doing it this way for years on all my vehicles and have NEVER blown or had a header gasket leak on this truck in about 7 years.

 

yes use the stock gaskets.... they work great.

I had used the old one on one side....... so I am sure u can also....

 

I did that pretty much and still had the issue.

I dont' know about a regular f150 but on my truck , i can get to all the header bolts with an extension and swivel socket without even take the wheels off or the fender well.

All of em seem to blower out on the back 2 cylinders.

 

HI!... tallimeca : Have you checked to see if the header flange is square. I'm running JDM/KOOKS S/S long tube headers on my built 5.4 and noticed that the mounting flange was slightly warped. I had a buddy square it on a surface grinder. Also for people that are having problems with the 3 bolt collector gaskets blowing. Check to make sure the collector rings are square. Mine are also from JDM and were perfect out of the box, but after they are welded onto the exhaust tubing they get CRAZY warped. Easy fix is to install a brand new 4-1/2" grinding disc on a hand held disc grind. Set it over the collector ring perfectly centered and apply presure. You can easily see the high or low spots. Thats what I did and have never blown one since. I just use the Mr GASKET 3 bolt 2-1/2 collector gaskets.

 

Neal I too have the JDM/Kooks set up. If it wasn't such a Pain to pull em, i'd do it.

You think we have problems.........check this out.

Had a 351 windsor block built. Bored to 408, victor JR heads. Called Hooker and asked what we needed for long tubes to be able to fit into a 5.0 foxbody. No Problem they say!!!!

Headers come. They come with a seperate flange to adapt them to the heads. Bolt on the flanges, fit the headers-great. Drop the motor in , slide the headers in and bolt them up. Started to leak almost imediatley. Loosened them, changed the gaskets. Went to the track, completely blew em out on each side. WTF. Tried a new gasket , same thing. Pulled the headers and found some crazy stuff. The bores in the flange where the allen head bolts that hold the flange to the heads are recessed are so close to the opening in the flange and header, there was like an 1/8 of an inch of seal at best!!! Then we look further, and the flanges couldn't possible be any of a worse match to the exhaust port on the heads!!! Call Hooker........no way they say. Double check the part numbers on the box and what they should be. All checks out. The flanges were blocking the exhaust port off by a good 30%!!!!

We have a local guy that ownes a machine shop that builds stuff for NASA and the Military. He is so smart , he is crazy. We gave him the gasket, the original flange, and a header. He fabbed us two new flanges that were about as ***** on as you can get without hand porting the flanges and heads together. What he found out is the bolts they gave us to mount the headers to the flange, were too long. The holes in the flange were threaded all the way through so when you put the header bolts into the flange, they were going through the flange and hitting the head, and as you tightened them, they were pressing the flanges away from the head, thus creating more leaks. The original flanges were twisted almost a 1/4 inch!!!

So they were leaking between the head and flange, and the flange and header. Talk about Poor Products!!! Then we called Hooker to tell them that and they said we must have used the wrong bolts from something else!!!!

 

As far ar the collector gaskets Victor Nitro Seals from NAPA are the best,they have a soft graphite coating and are flexible.

 

Ford changed the exhaust gaskets to a 2 port gasket...order this # YC2Z.9448.CA you will need 2 per side

 

That's what I got last time I got Ford Gaskets.

But, Dynatech sells some nice header gaskets; nots sure how the cost compares. They are like the Ford gaskets and have never gave me a problem.

 

food for thought.

My '99 came stock with one gasket on the passenger side (covered all 4 exhaust ports) and 2 gaskets on the drivers side (each one covered 2 exhaust ports)

 

thats correct but they changed to the new style 2 port gasket for both sides

 

I used the Ford Racing gaskets with my kooks and they came with 2 in the package for 15 bucks. They are a one piece gasket unlike the stock ones. I got the ones for the SOHC 4.6 mustang from oemfordparts.com. No leaks and they have been on for 6months or so.

 

Thanks for all the info.

So is this part number for the Ford Motorsport one-piece gaskets? Does this gasket infact work on the 5.4?

Part # M-9448-A462

and this is the oem gasket which I would need 4 of them if the above won't work.

# YC2Z.9448.CA