9 captured repliesDiscussion pagination complete · Source accounts, not a confirmed diagnosis
THIS DISCUSSION / SOURCE-DERIVED OVERVIEW
Discussion summary
YOUR RESEARCHHeader gasket reuse?
Leading reported evidence
Install some topgear headers and a 200-cell catted x-pipe
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
No successful repair reported for this finding.
0
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0
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1
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed · Original poster
So, I just installed some TopGear headers and a 200-cell catted x-pipe.
Leading evidence: 'Install some topgear headers and a 200-cell catted x-pipe' (no explicit attributable resolution; this is a reported action or suggestion). Across 1 matching discussions, The most frequently discussed action is 'Check flange' (1 discussions). For that action, 0 discussions report a resolution and 0 report an unsuccessful attempt. No action has an explicit, attributable resolution report under the current rules. These are forum reports and suggestions, not a confirmed diagnosis.
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Performed · outcome unconfirmed
It is the same type of gasket that was used on the old FoMoCo FE Series engine for head gaskets ( 360, 390, 406, 427, 428) that was common practice on the 360-390 to reuse at the Dealerships.
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Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
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Suggestion
The gaskets had a plastic/rubber coating on it for the water/oil passages, so the procedure was to check for flatness with a straight edge, if less than .002" then just clean the metal shim gasket and spray it with Copper Spray and bolt it back on....Same for cast iron exhaust manifolds, FoMoCo didn't use any gaskets on these, so just check for less than .002" flatness and spray with Copper Spray and bolt it up...never any problems...
Explicit resolution reports before identified causes, performed actions and suggestions. Within each level, matching component labels precede direct query mentions and inherited thread context; successful versus unsuccessful discussion counts, owner confirmations and independent discussion support determine order. This is not a probability of success.
Discussions that contain suggestions
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
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0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
The gaskets had a plastic/rubber coating on it for the water/oil passages, so the procedure was to check for flatness with a straight edge, if less than .002" then just clean the metal shim gasket and spray it with Copper Spray and bolt it back on....Same for cast iron exhaust manifolds, FoMoCo didn't use any gaskets on these, so just check for less than .002" flatness and spray with Copper Spray and bolt it up...never any problems...
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
The gaskets had a plastic/rubber coating on it for the water/oil passages, so the procedure was to check for flatness with a straight edge, if less than .002" then just clean the metal shim gasket and spray it with Copper Spray and bolt it back on....Same for cast iron exhaust manifolds, FoMoCo didn't use any gaskets on these, so just check for less than .002" flatness and spray with Copper Spray and bolt it up...never any problems...
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Suggestion
The gaskets had a plastic/rubber coating on it for the water/oil passages, so the procedure was to check for flatness with a straight edge, if less than .002" then just clean the metal shim gasket and spray it with Copper Spray and bolt it back on....Same for cast iron exhaust manifolds, FoMoCo didn't use any gaskets on these, so just check for less than .002" flatness and spray with Copper Spray and bolt it up...never any problems...
Discussions that performed work without a confirmed outcome
1
0 original-poster resolution reports. Counts can overlap; they are not unique people or a success rate.
0 discussions have direct query context; 0 report a fix in that context. Other evidence may inherit the discussion’s subject.
Performed · outcome unconfirmed
It is the same type of gasket that was used on the old FoMoCo FE Series engine for head gaskets ( 360, 390, 406, 427, 428) that was common practice on the 360-390 to reuse at the Dealerships.
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9 eligible posts · 0 unverified posts · 1 discussions match the subject in their title or opening post.
Rennlist: 1 discussions
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Generation: 20261026T174436Z · outcome-qualification-6. Deterministic extraction; no AI model inference. How we use sources
Hey all,
So, I just installed some TopGear headers and a 200-cell catted x-pipe. Awesome quality for what you get, very impressed overall. I am having an issue where my driver's side gasket is blowing despite being good and tight with the thicker gaskets supplied by TopGear. I don't see a listing on their site for just the gaskets (plus I'm in LA and they're in the UK) and nobody locally that's open seems to have the OE or OEM units, which I think
should
work.
My question is this: My stock gaskets are in good condition and look more or less new. What's the consensus on reusing them, specifically with headers?
I have the factory MLS gaskets, they seal fine with stock headers.. They need to be carefully tightened and torqued exactly is what I was told by a couple guys that have more 996 time than me...
I picked up a set of genuine Porsche gaskets today and since I don't have a way to reliably flatten the manifolds, I'm going to do a smallish bead of the super high temp exhaust rtv on both sides of the gasket around the ports before reinstalling. Fingers crossed.
Well if the header is warpped then they dont have awesome quatity and i would send them back or get a replacement. Good luck with the hightemp gooo but im betting it wont hold.
You could take your headers to a machine shop and have them skim cut the flanges to make them flat. That should enable you to get a good seal. They should not have to take much material off, you just want to get a flat surface.
Hope this helps.
Mark
If it were me,, first thing I'd do is what THEPRF suggested. Check for flatness of flange.
If you don't have a large metal straight edge ruler you can use a piece of glass.
The embossed "metal shim" gaskets are indeed reusable..I have done it many times in a pinch on my car with no issues...
It is the same type of gasket that was used on the old FoMoCo FE Series engine for head gaskets ( 360, 390, 406, 427, 428) that was common practice on the 360-390 to reuse at the Dealerships. This is back when Dealerships were always trying to save customers some money..The embossed metal shim gaskets never failed if the block and head were flat within .002" . The gaskets had a plastic/rubber coating on it for the water/oil passages, so the procedure was to check for flatness with a straight edge, if less than .002" then just clean the metal shim gasket and spray it with Copper Spray and bolt it back on....Same for cast iron exhaust manifolds, FoMoCo didn't use any gaskets on these, so just check for less than .002" flatness and spray with Copper Spray and bolt it up...never any problems...
Like others have said, if the head and header flange is flater than .002" you will have no problems....If its more than .002" then the aftermarket "perforated asbestos" gaskets will seal better but will not last a long time. It is best to remachine if anything isn't flat...
Also when you torque up the headers, start in the center and work your way to the ends... The torque of the bolts will actually help flatten a slightly warped header, they are not all that thick/strong...
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