Cracked Header???
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 68
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From: Jupiter FL
Cracked Header???
Driving around with a HS buddy last night I decide to be a jackass and showoff when getting on the interstate. By the time I get to third gear something doesn't sound quite right, but I figure its the sounds bouncing off the wall back to me. At any rate, I back off and ease it up to fourth and get out of the onramp. It still sounds odd. It really had a "slushy" sound to it like it dropped a cylinder or something odd on one cylinder. We pull off at a theater and when the car gets down to idle, there is a loud popping from under the right side of the hood once per rev. I pop the hood and can't see anything...plugs are on, and I don't hear any clinging or metallic impact so it seems like valves and springs are alright. The cylinder is firing but it sounds like its firing out into the engine bay. My guess is a cracked header or I blew out a header gasket. Any thoughts on what else it could be?
Thanks for any advice.
C'mon help a noob out......
Thanks for any advice.
C'mon help a noob out......
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Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 68
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From: Jupiter FL
Not terribly old. The motor is an AR Racing motor with just over 2000 mi on it and the pipes were put on during the restoration. I'm in touch with the old owner to see if they might be under some kind of warranty. I'll be dropping it off at a local shop tonight to have a leaky oil pan gasket replaced, so at least the timing is there.
Instructor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 210
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From: woodstock ga
If they were new they should not have cracked. Gaskets may have blown out. headers do have shorter lifespans that iorn manifolds since they cool down and heat up much faster than the thick iorn. many miles of wear and tear cause them to warp or crack. But that should not happen for many more miles to come. Especially not 2000
Drifting
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 1,665
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From: Ontario
I had a similar experience to yours - I revved it hard getting on the highway and had a clicking sound afterwards. Turned out to be a header gasket. The cheap paper gaskets that come with headers don't last very long. I pulled my gasket off and right away I could see where the leak was. I switched to Ultraseals, they've been fine for two years now. You could go with the copper gaskets for even more reliability. Hopefully thats all your problem is.
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Joined: Apr 2005
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From: Jupiter FL
Well I got into the motor last night and found the problem. The engine is an aftermarket AR Racing motor, and it looks like they forgot to torque the header bolts properly. The rearmost bolt was gone, the next one forward pulled straight out without turning, and I turned the next one a quarter turn by hand before tightening it down. The bad news is that I am worried that the exhaust manifold is damaged by the headers flopping around for the five of miles that it took to get home. Stupid me to drive with it like that. 
Once I got the headers tightened down, I could see into the exhaust port, but couldn't tell if it was because the gasket was gone or if it is damage (it was dark). I'm going to try to get a better look this weekend and take it to the shop for them to do some other work anyway. Just have to see if I can fix this problem myself or wait on a tow truck.
Once I got the headers tightened down, I could see into the exhaust port, but couldn't tell if it was because the gasket was gone or if it is damage (it was dark). I'm going to try to get a better look this weekend and take it to the shop for them to do some other work anyway. Just have to see if I can fix this problem myself or wait on a tow truck.
