Priya

I'm planning on a variety of upgrades to my motor including fuel injection. I mentioned headers to my husband and he said headers are a bad idea with fuel injection because they all leak and this will create false readings for the O2 sensor and make the car run too rich all the time.

I'm not ready to give up the idea of headers and fuel injection, do any of you have a set of headers you've had for a long time that don't leak?

Alternatively are the 81 and 82 Corvette tube type manifolds a performance improvement over the rams horn exhaust manifolds?

bluedawg

I don't know about the 81/82 manifolds, but my headers didn't leak at first, but half a dozen times of having them off and on, they started leaking, i fixed this by using two gaskets, a copper mr gasket and the Victor reins nitro seal, now there air tight. I have hooker which have a .25" flange, but hear that hedmen has headers with both the .375" flange and the ball collector are suppose to be better toward no leaking.

fishslayer143

Copper gaskets are better for sure.. I have them and Hedmen with the thick flange and the Ball/Socket Collector end.. 8 years , no leaks , after install and 100 miles , I retightened bolts and have never had to touch them since..

bluedawg

You actually had your vette together for 8 years now?

fishslayer143

yeah, I think its been about 8 years.. Lets see... I bought it in Dec 07.. started on it soon after ..I ve been a member here since 09, already had it done before then so, Its now 2016, yeah, 7 or 8 years since the Transplant.. It has been without a doubt , a very reliable build.. I ve had no issues other than just routine maintenance and some changes or upgrades I wanted to do.

jb78L-82

That is what I do...buy 2 sets of gaskets, high temp RTV between the 2 gaskets, put them on, tighten bolts after 100 miles...no issues now for years. I have found that most header gasket leak issues surround the fact that the gaskets are too thin to seal correctly. I used 2 sets of Felpro header gaskets for my last 2 applications with no issues...no fancy copper, etc.

Street Rat

I have always used Hooker Headers on various vehicles with success. I've never had any leaks at the heads. I never use the gaskets that come with the headers though. The key to a good seal is to use a quality gasket. I use the Fel Pro gaskets at the heads and copper at the collectors.

hugie82

I've always used stock exhaust manifold gaskets (steel perforated) on my headers. They never leak and if bolts loosen up, the gasket won't break or blow out. Just tighten it back up. The outlet has always been a challenge but the ball and socket style seems to be the way to go. The 81-82 stainless steel headers are an improvement over the old cast iron and seal well. The best part is no special parts or fabrication. Just order the 81 or 82 system from pypes or other vendors.

cv67

92-96 LT1/LT4 Vette manifolds flow very well. They will bolt up to your heads you can get them used for cheap. Smog stuff little different but not hard to make work

Headers that need multiple gaskets are probably of the cheaper variety ie thinner flanges or overtorqued

I use the cheap fel pro ones on my Dougs they have been on for 4 yrs

resdoggie

He should have said if the mating surfaces of the header flange and the cylinder head are true, a quality gasket is used, then you won't have any leaks.

Priya

I understand the exhaust ports are the same on my 79 L82 as on a Vortec head. I'm planning on using Vortec heads, so I assume the LT1/LT4 manifolds will wok on the Vortec heads as well?

htown81vette

I opted to keep my stock headers on my 82, and just installed dual exhaust. I had headers on my first car (a 1974 Camaro), and that was 32 years ago. I have headers on my drag car. As something that is practical, in other words, not to have to worry about, I just soon not have headers on a street car. Track car yes, absolutely. Street car, as you indicated, leaks, has that tinny sound, hangs down too low. I've never had a set of headers that didn't make contact with the pavement.

To each his own...

keithl1967

I've had great success with both REMFLEX gaskets, and percy's aluminum. The Percy's are re-useable, so that is a plus, but the REMFLEX never failed me, either...

aussiejohn

Street Rat and Priya,

I have a set of Sanderson Block Huggers on my '74 coupe and they have NO GASKETS!!! That is the way they are meant to fit and I have not had a leak in over four years now. I also use Stage 8 locking header bolts and have never need to adjust them either. I feel confident to say that you should consider Sanderson headers and Stage 8 header bolts and you should not have any exhaust leaks, ever.

Regards from Down Under.

aussiejohn

Big2Bird

Not really. They are lighter, but flow about the same. They are also prone to cracking.

jkippin

Aanyone using McJacks? They are copper plated inside and ceramic outside. Pricey but I have not had any leaks 1.75 primary tubes with 2.5 outlets. They do offer a 1.62 5x 2.0.
I have not had any issues with leaking gaskets. I cant tell you for sure if they alone made any more power for me because I changed out the Rams Horns and factory side pipes for the McJacks and a set of Sweet Thunder 2.5 inlet side pipes. I can tell you the car did perform better and ran cooler.

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AdamMeh

Using a set of 30 year old headers and don't have any leaks. Two gaskets per side at the head, and dead soft aluminum collector gaskets.

Little Mouse

Use studs and nuts. If someone has an aluminum head you need to use them anywhere you can. Regular bolts when you tighten them twist on the threads and wear the threads out also won't give as good of clamping force.

So now i have to bore you with a long story. Around 18 i was having problems with my shifting levers on my Z/28 coming lose it used bolts instead of studs.
So i put lock tight on the bolts but eventually they would work lose again ( i drove it hard everywhere it went ) Earlier transmission's used studs and nuts so i did that no lock tight, end of problem so i learned about studs early.

Priya

I like the two gaskets idea, if I do go with headers that's likely what I'm going to do.

AdamMeh

Hi Priya,

Other cars I've had with new(er) headers sealed up great with just a single gasket. In this case we're using a very old set because we're going for a vintage feel, and they needed a little extra help due to age / wear and tear etc. We didn't want to cut them up or grind on them, and doubling up the gaskets was an effective solution given the circumstances. No leaks at all now.

Good luck with your project!