84-85 converter flange gaskets?
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Watertown CT
84-85 converter flange gaskets?
I'm putting original style exhaust back on my 84 to be able to pass emissions. i have all the parts except the catalytic converter flange gaskets. the dealer cant get them, no parts stores have them available, what do people with 82-85 vettes do for flange gaskets when they need to replace a converter?
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,991
Likes: 5
From: The Pines South Jersey
my 86 has the flange but with a ball socket, the other end is slip joint -
if you have flanges that but up without the ball socket - go get high temp sheet gasket from the auto store and do it the old fashioned way and make your own
if you have flanges that but up without the ball socket - go get high temp sheet gasket from the auto store and do it the old fashioned way and make your own
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Watertown CT
82-85 uses a 4 bolt flat flange on each end of the converter. ive never seen anything in a sheet other than the type you would use to make a gasket for a fluid bottle cap or something like that. what stores sell exhaust gasket material in a sheet? thanks
Safety Car
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 4,991
Likes: 5
From: The Pines South Jersey
just ask for high temp gasket material- then tack it on the flange and use a ball pean hammer to open it up
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
Install them as the factory did, with no gasket. There is no listing in the GM parts book for those gaskets. If yours leak, mine never did, you can try some of the "patches" suggested above.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 210
Likes: 0
From: Watertown CT
what do you torque the bolts too? i bought some 1/2" stainless nuts and bolts so i should get some good torque on it but i cant imagine the flange bein machined that smooth. thanks again
Melting Slicks
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 3,326
Likes: 1
From: I live at www.domesticlugnuts.com I sleep in PA
Racer
Joined: May 2006
Posts: 293
Likes: 0
NUTS and bolts??? The converter flange is tapped for the M10 bolts used. I didn't use a torque wrench. I just tightened them, TIGHT. Since you cared enough to ask, a peek into your Factory Service Manual would have told you that the spec is 54 Nm - 65 Nm, or approx 40 to 50 foot pounds.
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Pro
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 503
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From: Oxford Pa
I'm putting original style exhaust back on my 84 to be able to pass emissions. i have all the parts except the catalytic converter flange gaskets. the dealer cant get them, no parts stores have them available, what do people with 82-85 vettes do for flange gaskets when they need to replace a converter?
If you really want gaskets you can make them from a sheet of gasket material. An autoparts store can probably help you out there.
Tom
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 1,096
Likes: 28
From: Baltimore MD
When I swapped out the stock cat for a high flow replacement, I used a small bead of "Permatex Ultra Copper" high temp RTV around the flanges, along with some stainless steel bolts and nuts. It works everytime. I first used it several years ago on a pesky exhaust leak right at the head on an old Harley.
