Side exhaust gaskets?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 3,181
Likes: 732
From: Texas City, TX Texas
Side exhaust gaskets?
I have stainless steel headers/side exhaust on my small block '74. I can hear an exhaust leak and see soot between the header collector and the 4" side muffler part. Seems like they are tightened as far as possible, is there some sort of gasket material that can be used?
Race Director
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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Hi-temp silicone works the best.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 4,886
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From: Jackson MS
I'm using Hooker flat black side pipes and I always thought that pinch bolt on the side tube was a bit under-engineered.
I added a 4 inch band clamp to that joint after cutting a clearance slot to fit around the pinch bolt.
I cut the clearance slots close to the bolts in order to be able to rotate the bolts upward for ground clearance.
I added a 4 inch band clamp to that joint after cutting a clearance slot to fit around the pinch bolt.
I cut the clearance slots close to the bolts in order to be able to rotate the bolts upward for ground clearance.
Safety Car
Joined: Apr 2015
Posts: 4,886
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From: Jackson MS
Those clamps were polished stainless when I got them.
Here's the Amazon link.
I scuffed them up with a right angle grinder / scotch brite pad and painted them with VHT header paint.
If you want to go "belt and suspenders", you could use the high temp silicone between the band clamp and the pipe.
Here's the Amazon link.
I scuffed them up with a right angle grinder / scotch brite pad and painted them with VHT header paint.
If you want to go "belt and suspenders", you could use the high temp silicone between the band clamp and the pipe.
Last edited by wendellp601; Dec 30, 2020 at 10:32 AM. Reason: belt and suspenders
Le Mans Master
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 5,017
Likes: 1,118
From: North tonawanda NY
Just going to mention that my pipes do not leak at all after adding the copper gasket sealer and they still come apart easily as I have done so 3 times when experimenting with different inserts.. lots of ways to skin a cat.
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Also. I use anti sieze so I can take them off. They are hard to get off if you push them all the way in. I’ve never used silicone and would worry they might not come off but if some have successfully done this then they would know.
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From: Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Australia
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yes Dave, the silicon seals the exhaust in and water/rust out. they come right apart.