Well put on brand new bbk ceramic coated headers, drove to the muffler shop with open headers and had the entire exhaust replaced underneath the truck, 2.5" duals, chrome tips, everything, $288, no tax, no ticket. Pulled it off the rack and discovered a gasket leak on the driver side toward the back. I ordered and used full copper gaskets from summit with the embossed edge, they should not have leaked! I tried retorquing them but can't get anymore on em than I have. The only thing I can get on them with is a 3/8 wrench which is only about 4" long or a 1/4" ratchet. Do I need to be able to torque them down more or do I need to order another gasket set
This is frustrating
Anybody have any suggestions?

 

Mine started to leak a little bit, so I just re tightened them and...no more leak. I have the Percy's Dead Soft Aluminum Header Gaskets and stage 8 locking header bolts.

 

If you've over torqued them, the gaskets are history. They'll never seal up right on their own. You may be able to save the day with high-temp RTV though (that's the orange or the copper, not clear, blue or black.) Put it on both surfaces of the gasket and re-install. Torque the bolts to 26-32 ft-lbs. Start at the center and work out, alternating front and rear. If I were you I'd get new bolts. If you've leaned on those to get them good and tight, they may be trashed. Let the RTV set up before you fire the engine up

 

I'd loosen them at the collectors first, too.

Sears makes an excellent wrench for getting to header bolts with. It's called an ignition wrench, and it has a regular open end, and a open end that's angled sideways. It's also super thin, yet very strong. It makes it easy to get a good bite on any header bolt. Of the set, you want the 3/8" ignition wrench.

Take care,
~Chris

 

I figured I'd have to get new gaskets, the instructions said to use high temp rtv but I didnt and no doubt I should have. I have a set of ignition wrenches, the wrenches I have seem to work fine as far as being able to get in and the clearance, just seems that anything 3/8" has a really short handle and hard to get as "feel" for how much torque your applying. I was aware 26-32lbs is what I should shoot for but don't know how to accurately get it without a torque wrench (that won't fit in a tight spot).
Beastie, I saw the percy dead soft aluminum and considered trying them, maybe I will try them this time, did you use any rtv and how did you know how much torque them

 

I had the same problem with the copper header gaskets. I replaced them with Mr. gasket's Ultra seal header gaskets and i haven't had a leak since. (knock on wood)

 

im running the Mr. G ultraseals too, not a leak yet.

 

Where did you guys get the ultra seals? Discount does not carry them here, but they do have felpro which is been good for me in the past.