stevns71monte Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 ever since ive installed the headers the bolts always come loose ive gone throught two paper gaskets already because the bolt will decide to loosen at the worse possible place where i am stuck with no tools. today i went to autozone and bought aluminum gaskets but how do you guys get your bolts to stay? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chevyss Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Install the new gaskets, tighten the bolts as tight as you can get them. After a week, retighten them. You are using the header bolts provided with the headers? Maybe try some locktight on the bolt threads. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stevns71monte Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 i bought loctite and some hi temperature form a gasket. i dont get why they rattle loose so easily Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
7tonemonte Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Welcome to the wonderful world of headers Try a set of stage 8 locking header bolts if its that much of a problem, or just check them occasionally and retighten Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
502ci Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Get some locking header bolts and end your miseries... Â Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mike 57 Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 the aluminum gaskets may help, the paper / composite gaskets like constant attention. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ian Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Get these gaskets (double check your application) http://www.summitracing.com/parts/FEL-1444/ and tighten good when you put them on then drive it a couple times and retighten and you should be good to go I use the FelPro ones on all headers. They have a steel core with a fiber gasket material around them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
zmanabba Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Just to add a bit to the others excellent advice. Usually it's not so much that the bolts are coming loose --it's that the gaskets are compressing as they go through a few hot/cold cycles. That is why you check them after running the car for a few miles. If the gaskets you bought don't work ( they should ) try a set of Percy's. They are pricey but re-usable ( yours are probably re-usable also ). David Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Archie Posted September 27, 2011 Share Posted September 27, 2011 Although this was a while back, it will likely still work. I used to use the manifold gaskets. You can double them up as well, and then the same as others have said tighten them up after a few heat cycles. When I had an 84 Z28 I swapped in a mild 350 with shorty headers and mandrel bent 3" single exhaust (not the most room for duels) and I continually blew out the header/collector gaskets. This solved the header gasket problem, but the collector always blew out as the back pressure must have been to much. Worth a try as most of us end up with piles of these manifold gaskets anyway, lol. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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