RKsport Header Warning!!

[QuicksilverRS]

Just a post to warn everyone away from putting the RKsport headers on your car. I picked up a set for my '97 RS a couple of months ago and was pleased with both the sound and performance of them. That is, untill I heard this strange ticking sound when I acellerated.

What could it be? Well, it be an exhaust leak. RKsport, in their infinite wisdom, put 1/4" 2-bolt flanges as collector flanges between the headers and the Y-pipe. So, when the car heated up the exhaust the flimsy flanges started to warp causing a leak around the gaskets.

After straightening the gaskets twice and putting better and better gaskets in, the flanges just kept on warping. So, I fixed it. We cut off the flanges and had some custom 1/2" thick 3-bolt mamma jammas made and welded 'em on. The car will explode before these flanges give. Check 'em out:

http://www.members.tripod.com/quicks.../home/id8.html

So, if there are any other headers out there to fix up an ole 3800 Series II...Go for it. Otherwise, get ready to "cut and paste" yourself some better flanges.

- Ryan

[Silver3800V6FBodyKY]

There is nothing wrong with the RK Sport Headers. I've had many compliments from exhaust experts and mechanics. The only the that's wrong with the KIT is the gaskets. Go and buy better gaskets than they provide - that's the only complaint.

[nino]

everybody knows they warp! everybody welds them! i cant believe you did not know that.

[Birdie2000]

This has been discussed several thousand times in the past, but what your exhaust shop did is what most people do. Also, you could weld them right to the y-pipe, but that may provide inconvenience in the future.

[QuicksilverRS]

It's funny. I try to be nice and help out people and yet, I either get someone who hasn't read the post, or someone trying to insult replying.

To Silver3800V6FBodyKY, please read very carefully before responding. I have on at least two occasions upgraded the gaskets and straightened the flanges to NO AVAIL. Hence, the better flanges. I did talk to the boys at RKsport and they admitted to me that they had a lot of complaints about the flanges as well as the gaskets. They're initial response was the same as yours: "get copper gaskets." When told that I had already replaced those twice, they said, "well, we have had several of the kits warp." and offered to replace it. Yeah, like I need a new set that's gonna do the same thing. I thought about welding 'em, but this fix seems easier to stomach. The less permanantly affixed to other parts the better. Thank you for your suggestion anyway, just in my case, it didn't work too well. [img]smile.gif[/img]

To nino: Telling someone "I can't beleive you didn't know that!" doesn't help anyone. In fact it is a waste of space on a message board. Hopefully, my problem helped someone else by letting them know about the problem I had. That's what these boards are about. They are not for people to post in an effort to belittle others and make themselves feel like a "big man." SO, in the future please feel free to contribute useful posts but no one wants to hear you spouting off. In addition, any other flaming in response to this post will not be replied to. My life is too important to waste on people who feel the need to insult or belittle others.

To: Birdie2000. Thank you sir, I appreciate your mature reply after nino's. It just goes to show that age has nothing to do with maturity, you at 18 responded much more polietly and helpfully to the post than nino of 28. Thanks again to you and Silver3800V6FBodyKY. That's the kind of help I come to expect from fellow F-body owners.

Ryan

[Silver3800V6FBodyKY]

Ryan,

I believe you that your set of RK Sport Headers warped, and their might be several cases out there that the same things have happened - I was merely speaking from experience when I said that my only complaint was the worthless gaskets they provided. I'm sure your's did warp, and I'm glad mine haven't, yet, but I assure you that I read your post and was only offering my best advice when I said to buy better gaskets.

I almost sent a bill to RK Sport for the time it took to replace my gaskets and have the Y-Pipe modified, but they probably would have just said it was the install that caused the problems.

Jon

[QuicksilverRS]

I hear 'ya. Welcome to my life. I called and complained. Talked to um.....Mark I think, maybe John. I don't remember the name. Anyway, he's the tech people's manager. He seemed ready to do something for me, said he wanted to talk to one of the owners first. He's supposed to call me back next week. We'll see. It'd be cool to get a little free gear for my trouble.

-Ryan

[Silver3800V6FBodyKY]

I'm with you all the way! If you get anything out of them, let us know, maybe I could call and complain too!

[RacerJ]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by Silver3800V6FBodyKY:
There is nothing wrong with the RK Sport Headers.<hr></blockquote>

2-bolt flange design. If they had used a 3-bolt design (as they should have), then there probably wouldn't be any warping - regardless of what kind of gasket was used.