Reusing exhaust gaskets
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Reusing exhaust gaskets
I plan to swap my 04 cpe exhaust (h-pipe & rear) for one from a 03 Z06 this weekend. The dealer will have to order the gaskets (approx. $21/ea for the front seal and $12/ea for the rear). Are the odds decent that I could reuse the existing gaskets. Is there something special about these gaskets to make them so pricey? Also, does anyone know if the h-pipe will bolt up the same (same length & sensor location) as the 04 exhaust since the Z06 does not have the pre-cats? Thanks.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 17,336
Likes: 8
From: Maker of Sharp Objects, AL - Roll Tide
St. Jude Donor '10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15-'16-'17
St. Jude Knife Maker
If I am not mistaken, the front up near the manifolds are ball gaskets. I wouldn't think you would need to replace those.
As far as the rear, take a screw driver or something of that nature and scrape all the insulating material off of both sides of the old gasket. The metal perforated piece will remain that was in the middle. Go to your local auto parts place and pic up some high temp super bad awesome RTV silicone gasket maker
. The stuff I used was copper colored and may have even had copper in it if I remember correctly. Put a generous amount on both sides of the metal piece, and bolt everything up. YOU MUST LET IT DRY. once it sloidifies it will be as good or better than the original gasket.
Did mine this way a while back and no leaks or problems so far
edit-just saw where you mentioned "pre cats". I'm pretty sure that the H-pipe is the same on all of the cars, Z or not. I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure they are the same.
As far as the rear, take a screw driver or something of that nature and scrape all the insulating material off of both sides of the old gasket. The metal perforated piece will remain that was in the middle. Go to your local auto parts place and pic up some high temp super bad awesome RTV silicone gasket maker
. The stuff I used was copper colored and may have even had copper in it if I remember correctly. Put a generous amount on both sides of the metal piece, and bolt everything up. YOU MUST LET IT DRY. once it sloidifies it will be as good or better than the original gasket. Did mine this way a while back and no leaks or problems so far
edit-just saw where you mentioned "pre cats". I'm pretty sure that the H-pipe is the same on all of the cars, Z or not. I may be wrong, but I'm pretty sure they are the same.
Last edited by J S Machine; May 20, 2009 at 04:17 PM.
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 49
Likes: 0
Thanks for the replies. I'll gamble on using the existing gaskets. I can always change the gaskets using ramps/jack stands at a later time if needed without having to drive to my brothers garage to use his lift. The h-pipes, on the later models anyhow, are indeed different since the they went with small pre-cats on the later years at least for the non-Z06 models. Not sure if there is a performance penalty for the systems with the pre-cats but I assume there is since the Z06's did not have them and I believe the cats themselves are different internally.
Corvette Stories
The Best of Corvette for Corvette Enthusiasts
Top 10 Most Expensive Corvettes Ever Sold on Bring A Trailer
Brett Foote
10 Things Every Corvette Owner Needs (2026 Edition)
Michael S. Palmer
8 Most "Only Corvette Owners Understand" Quirks and Problems
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Reasons the C6 Z06 is Still A Performance Benchmark After 20 Years
Joe Kucinski
How Much Horsepower Every Corvette Engine "LOST" in 1972
Joe Kucinski
Top 10 DOs and DON'Ts for Protecting Your Convertible Top!
Michael S. Palmer
Top 10 Most Explosive Corvettes Ever Made: Power-to-Weight Ratio Ranked!
Joe Kucinski
150 hp to 1,250 hp: Every Corvette Generation Compared by the Specs That Matter
Joe Kucinski
