Header leak?
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 274
Likes: 43
From: Vestavia Hills, AL
Header leak?
Hello,
I had short headers installed on my 94 and I am concerned it has a leak. The gaskets are copper. Maybe I am not used to the sound yet, it sounds not so much like a ticking but more like a Harley lol. Any thoughts? I am considering maybe just tightening the bolts are much as possible.
I had short headers installed on my 94 and I am concerned it has a leak. The gaskets are copper. Maybe I am not used to the sound yet, it sounds not so much like a ticking but more like a Harley lol. Any thoughts? I am considering maybe just tightening the bolts are much as possible.
Last edited by wood78221; Aug 12, 2020 at 10:32 AM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2013
Posts: 6,192
Likes: 750
From: near the thumb in the mitten
Headers tend to have a "tinny" sound compare to cast iron. So it could be normal. If you paid take back to installer to check. If DIY retorque bolts. No specific value 20-25 ft lbs should be good, Don't let " the big armed man" distort flanges or strip bolt holes over tightening bolts. Stuffing rags or towels to restrict muffler outlets usually makes leaks more noticeable. Remember rags have to come back out.
Thread Starter
Racer
Joined: Jun 2020
Posts: 274
Likes: 43
From: Vestavia Hills, AL
Headers tend to have a "tinny" sound compare to cast iron. So it could be normal. If you paid take back to installer to check. If DIY retorque bolts. No specific value 20-25 ft lbs should be good, Don't let " the big armed man" distort flanges or strip bolt holes over tightening bolts. Stuffing rags or towels to restrict muffler outlets usually makes leaks more noticeable. Remember rags have to come back out.
Safety Car
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 4,759
Likes: 1,647
From: Fairfax Virginia
I don't think the LT1 engine were designed to sound like a Harley. I have been using Soft Copper gaskets for decades and they have never failed me. It must be a bit loose or something is keeping the header from tightening down properly on your Corvette. Are these the thick copper gaskets or are they thin? I have the soft copper type and they are thicker than normal header gaskets. I have not ever had to tighten a header bolt since they were installed. They do offer Soft Aluminum header gaskets as well as the copper ones. The key word is "Soft" so it seals to the head more effectively.
Kevova is absolutely correct, don't fall into the trap of just cranking it a bit tighter to see if that helps. It is not fun to remove a broken header bolt from the cylinder head while in the Corvette. He is also right about the difference in sound, they don't sound like the heavy cast iron manifolds did. The one lesson I learned is they do dump a lot more heat into the engine compartment and on my C3 they started to damage the paint above the headers. Some reflective insulation on the underside of the hood over the headers should solve that along with my cooling fans running for a few minutes after shutdown.
Kevova is absolutely correct, don't fall into the trap of just cranking it a bit tighter to see if that helps. It is not fun to remove a broken header bolt from the cylinder head while in the Corvette. He is also right about the difference in sound, they don't sound like the heavy cast iron manifolds did. The one lesson I learned is they do dump a lot more heat into the engine compartment and on my C3 they started to damage the paint above the headers. Some reflective insulation on the underside of the hood over the headers should solve that along with my cooling fans running for a few minutes after shutdown.
