question about installing exhaust manifold gaskets

[Twitch]

I either have the worst luck in the world with cars, or stock exhaust manifold gaskets suck. The first car I owned I blew the gasket twice and broke the actual manifold itself twice, this time it appears to be just the gasket. So I'm looking at installing some new gaskets myself and wanted opinions as to what brand gaskets to go with? And second is it easier to do the installation from underneath or from above; and are there any write-ups on this installation?

[98Camaro3.8]

Felpro gaskets have always been good, but I've never tried the exhaust manifold gaskets with our stock manifolds.

It's a bit of the pain in the *** to change them out with stock manifolds. You'll be working from the top and bottom. Some bolts may be easier to get from the top, while you have to get others from the bottom.

There's no guides for anything like that, since it's basically just removing bolts and putting them right back in. Just ends up being a pain to get to, and you may break some of them.

Being a newer car with tubular manifolds, things may be a bit easier...I can't say since I've never seen them in person.

[Silver 99 Camaro]

Twitch, question...How do you know the manifold gaskets are bad? Does it make noise? Just wondering since I might have the same problem.

[Twitch]

Yep its got the little ticking noise, same exact noise my old car made when the manifold gaskets were shot. I even took off the serpentine belt (seemed like everyones recommendation when determining engine noises) and it was still there when I started it up. So I pinpointed the leak to the passenger side exhaust manifold. Plus I figure it has to be that because since the noise started, I have been getiing terrible gas mileage, I'm talking lucky to pull 200 miles out of a tank and thats shifting below 3k.

[ February 28, 2006, 02:32 AM: Message edited by: Twitch ]

[iGoRa]

the weakest point is EGR tube.
I have mine gaskets replaced together with the manifolds, i used Felpro(just because I got them for free) Viper gave a bad review on them(they look chap compare to the 3 layer steel I got before), but no leaks.

[98Camaro3.8]

Originally posted by iGoRa:
i used Felpro(just because I got them for free) Viper gave a bad review on them(they look chap compare to the 3 layer steel I got before), but no leaks.

Viper gave them a bad review for use with Pacesetter headers because of the shape. They're very nice gaskets for stock manifolds, but the shape is totally wrong for Pacesetters.