Header Install: Re-use stock gaskets??
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 988
Likes: 26
From: Seattle WA
ARH - use OEM or theirs? Anyone with experiences?
I bought ARHs, the gaskets look ok, will try and determine layers and if metal at all.
Anyone have thoughts on these American Racing Headers gaskets?
Anyone have thoughts on these American Racing Headers gaskets?
Tech Contributor
Joined: Mar 2003
Posts: 12,094
Likes: 197
From: Colorado Springs, CO
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
I have a unique experience with this issue.
I have done so many head swaps, header swaps, and a widebung installs on the old and new headers and can say without issue to 1: never use anything but the OEM stock gaskets and 2: reuse the ones you have. Not only have I seen a ton of gaskets develop leaks that header companies supply, I have never seen a leak on the steel stock gaskets.
Personally, I have had the headers off my car 11 times. I still have the factory stock gaskets and have never replaced them since I bought the car. New gaskets are a total waste of money and they are reusable. There is zero reason to buy new gaskets when you put headers on the car. I have never seen one bad.
Anyone telling you its cheap insurance is selling you aligator transport insurance for your car. You dont need it or new gaskets.
I have done so many head swaps, header swaps, and a widebung installs on the old and new headers and can say without issue to 1: never use anything but the OEM stock gaskets and 2: reuse the ones you have. Not only have I seen a ton of gaskets develop leaks that header companies supply, I have never seen a leak on the steel stock gaskets.
Personally, I have had the headers off my car 11 times. I still have the factory stock gaskets and have never replaced them since I bought the car. New gaskets are a total waste of money and they are reusable. There is zero reason to buy new gaskets when you put headers on the car. I have never seen one bad.
Anyone telling you its cheap insurance is selling you aligator transport insurance for your car. You dont need it or new gaskets.
Last edited by SpinMonster; Jan 4, 2008 at 03:19 AM.
Thread Starter
Drifting
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 1,844
Likes: 12
From: Alpharetta Georgia
I wasn't planning on buying new ones. I have done turbo swaps on a lot of my old cars and ALWAYS re-used the stock manifold gaskets which see way more heat than the gaskets on the Vette, and never had a problem. However, I am well aware of the "my vette is the most sacred thing ever and will only have the best/new parts" theme that many owners here follow to the T.
Safety Car
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 4,647
Likes: 1
From: Objects in your mirror are losing , Long Island, NY
St. Jude Donor '08
I just did mine & the CF article posted from Vette mag on Kooks install said to use the new gaskets supplied by Kooks. Which is what I did, it would appear the concensus would be otherwise. That said, would you go to the trouble of changing them out. If I choose to change them out, can it be done w/o loosening the collectors from the cat/x-pipes, but rather just pulling the bolts at the heads? They also gave torque specs, can you get one in there to all the bolts. I also have saw a fair amount of comments about reusing the stock bolts vs the ones supplied by Kooks which are shorter I assumed b/c the header flanges aren't as thick as the manifolds. Any thoughts here?
Call Gene Culley at ( GM Parts House ) forum Vendor here, phone number (610-862-0550) tell Gene you are a CF forum member and you get a discount on any part. Total cost plus shipping to me was $27. Took couple of days to get them..
Last edited by welcome2try; Jan 4, 2008 at 10:27 AM.
Safety Car
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 3,712
Likes: 3
From: TEXOMA
St. Jude Donor '08-'09
i didn't believe all the hipe. and just when i was gonna open my big mouth and brag about my kooks gaskets working fine. i went out and took on last look. leaking like a sob!! so about 1 hour of my life wasted swapping them out. and here is proof. 1000miles later
reason 1,920,922 to reuse stock GM gaskets!!
-carl
reason 1,920,922 to reuse stock GM gaskets!!
-carl
