Best gaskets for CIA Headers?

[Steve Presley]

Got my headers and Y pipe ordered. What are the best header gaskets to use? I've been told to use copper if I can find them.. anyone got an opinion?

Thanks,
Steve

[John_D.]

I never found any "header" gaskets for the 6. I got the standard metal ones from Autozone or Advance, I think Felpro made them. They're working great. The factory ones were 4 layers, the Felpro ones are a single layer.

[Redsix]

get the factory gaskets. $13 and they do the job nicely. :D

[RacerJ]

You can't use the factory/stock-style gaskets for the headers. :mad: [img]graemlins/thumbsdown.gif[/img]

For the CIA headers, what you want is a standard, 3-bolt, 2.5" header gasket. I think it's actually some kind of composite material, but it's pretty damn thick. The auto supply stores around me don't seem to carry this type of gasket, but there are two way I know of to get it:

1) You can get them from Dan at CIA if you ask him for them.

2) (Probably faster and easier) Go down to your local exhaust shop and ask them for the gasket. They should have it.

FYI - The material does "burn-in." It will smell pretty bad for about the first day. After that, it's pure Horatio Alger. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[John_D.]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by RacerJ:
You can't use the factory/stock-style gaskets for the headers<hr></blockquote>

Why not...?

[Redsix]

You can use the factory gaskets. Thats what I am going to use and that is what one of my friends told me to get. He has the headers installed and has never had problems.

[black98V6]

fellas I think we have a major miscommunication.. some of you are talking about the gaskets that go between the header flange and the block and others are talking about the 3 bolt gaskets that go between the header and the y-pipe.. (aka the collector gasket)
from what I understand the collector gasket is the one that leaks alot for people with rk sport headers and this is where people get rk sport headers welded.. (this is because the rk sport collector is only a 2 bolt collector.. man talk about miscommunication when someone talks about welding headers.. [img]smile.gif[/img]

could this be why everyone seems so confused?? then again maybe I'm just running off at the mouth..

[John_D.]

Dan at CIA includes the header to y-pipe (collector) gaskets. These included gaskets should work fine.

The gaskets that are not included, are the ones between the header and the head. The felpro's were $18. I've been running the felpro stock type gaskets for 2 months and no problems.

[Steve Presley]

<blockquote>quote:</font><hr>Originally posted by John_D.:
Dan at CIA includes the header to y-pipe (collector) gaskets. These included gaskets should work fine.

The gaskets that are not included, are the ones between the header and the head. The felpro's were $18. I've been running the felpro stock type gaskets for 2 months and no problems.<hr></blockquote>


Right, the ones between the motor and the headers are what I need. The collector gaskets come with the kit from Dan. Got a part # John?

[RacerJ]

Yup, sorry, I thought you were talking about the gasket between the headers and Y-pipe (since you mentioned the Y-pipe in your post). That's the gasket which (in my experience) my exhaust guy refers to as "a header gasket." It's his business, I'll let him decide what it is. ;)

Anyway, yeah for the manifold-to-head gasket, use the FelPro set. That's also what I am using. No problems with them so far.