Installing pacesetters- have a question

[Loochy88]

Ive got everything off and im getting ready to stick the primaries on there. those heatshields were a royal pain. maybe i did something wrong but i had to take a prybar to every one of them to get them to slide out. the bolts were rusted on everywhere. I broke two bolts on the driver's side heat shield and bolts bolts where the manifold connected to the ypipe on the dirver's side. luckily no bolts broke off it mattered.

now my question is when i took off the manifolds there were two gaskets on each side. in-between there were these metal pieces made out of the same stuff the heat shields are made of. i was wondering if these go back on? I know the gaskets dont go back on, but what about these other things? This is probably a dumb question because then i would be two gaskets short (i only have the two paper) but i just wanted to make sure. (and yes, i will remember to soak the gaskets).

Also, be sure to wear gloves when you cut that ypipe off. I fillet'd my hand like a little fish on the sharp end while we took it off. good thing there arent a lot of nerves in our knuckles

[98Camaro3.8]

The trick to getting those heat shields of is to just use brute force like you said. I talked to an exhaust shop and they said to just beat the **** out of them until you can get them out.

The old manifold gaskets are multi-layered. Throw everything out. The only gasket you need is the new paper one you're putting on.

[BLLDOGG]

i didnt soak my gaskets. i havnt driven my car more than maybe 200 miles. do you think i could take them off and soak them or do you recommend just buying new ones. also, what does putting wet gaskets on do, how do it keep it from leaking. the only reason im asking is cause i have a leak and cant find it yet. and it only leaks under load from 2K-up.

[OneQuickV6]

If your old gasket is still in good shape, straight and such...re-use it! It seals better than the Pacesetter and most other paper gaskets when torqued properly.

[98Camaro3.8]

I've had my Pacesetters on since January. I didn't soak my gaskets, and have no leaks.

[WickEdSix9838]

one problem most people have is they do not re-tighten their header bolts after they've gotten the motor hot and let it cool a few times. This will cause the gasket to eventually burn out cuz the bolts will get loose. As far as the stock gasket sealing better than the paper pacesetter gasket im not sure because the flange on the pacesetters isnt exactly close to flat. I would just use the paper gaskets and let it get hot a cool a few times and just stay on top of the header bolts. They will eventually even out and you wont need to tighten them anymore.

[Loochy88]

you guys that have had leaks: did you remember to tighten the bolts from the middle outward?

also, i totally plan on tightening my bolts as often as i can. i dont fell like taking them off again to reinstall them. ill be finishing the job first thing in the morning tomorrow. i cant wait to take them out for a drive.

[98Camaro3.8]

FWIW, I tightened the bolts from the middle out, after every heat cycle for about a week.

[ July 12, 2004, 02:19 AM: Message edited by: 98Camaro3.8 ]

[BLLDOGG]

i didnt tighten from the middle out. maybe i should try that. i read the same thing in the instructions earlier

[99W68Firebird]

i bought some aluminum or whatever they are made out gaskets.. Fel-pro brand was like $15 plus shippin rather pay that now and save the work rather than put the paper ones on and have to replace in 6 months. but yea finally dropped off car tonight to exhaust shop.. full exhaust system should be completed tomorrow.. so prolly will get camara happy and get some vids for you guys.

[BLUE]

I don't have leaks on mine even though one of the header stock bolts broke at the heads without me trying to taking it off. The only leaks I'm getting are on the ball/flange connection. I'm getting a new sets of bolts and nuts to tighten these connections.

[BLLDOGG]

last night i started up my car and i could hear that leak w/out the car being under load. so i got out of the car quickly before the egine heated up and the noise went away and i shoved my head and i wasnt from my egr, it was from my header gaskets. im going to go out right now and loosen the header and then re tighten from the MIDDLE. see how it goes. i also had to replce the y-pipe bolts. i ran out of thread so i went and got full lenght thread bolts

[Loochy88]

well, i finally got the primaries on today. i soaked the gaskets and tiaghtened the bolts from the middle out. i killed one of the manifuld oxygen sensors taking it out. the sensor still works fine, but i ripped the threads off of it so i had to get a new one. i couldnt get the y pipe in yet cause its 3 inches and so is the end of the cat, so i guess i need a connector. i also think i cut the pipe too far away from the cat because i couldnt get the ypipe close for a test fit. of course i couldnt head any leaks today since i was running open headers, but i gotta say it sounds pretty cool.

[BLLDOGG]

cool. the y-pipe should be expanded so if your cat is too, same happened here, i just slipped a 3" pipe in both sides and clamped and tack welded. im sure you can run to an exhaust shop to get a short piece of pipe

[Loochy88]

i took a bit different approach. i just measured really well and made a real precise cut. i then had someone i know weld it up flush for me. it worked out pretty well.

maybe its just that i got used to driving with the open headers, but the exhaust sounds quieter than it did before when i had the manifolds. either way it still sounds good.

also, the high temp paint i got at autozone was junk. every last bit bubbled and smoked and then fell off the headers. does anyone know of some high temp paint that will actually work. the same guy who welded the pipes for me recomended a paint made by "eastwood". anyone know what paint this is exactly?

also, i got an ses light today. it was probably just from driving around with the headers open until i got to the shop. i reset the battery tomorrow and see what happens.