Header removal

[Brady]

New guy again. Well seeing that I gotta get the car up to replace the oil pan gasket I was going to take the headers off to look for cracks/leaks. I'm pretty sure I have them, I hear something. Any tips or tricks to make the job easier? Stuff I should do while I'm at it???

Thanks for all the info guys

 

[cetme1]

New guy again. Well seeing that I gotta get the car up to replace the oil pan gasket I was going to take the headers off to look for cracks/leaks. I'm pretty sure I have them, I hear something. Any tips or tricks to make the job easier? Stuff I should do while I'm at it???

Thanks for all the info guys

Soak the bolts with a penetrating oil like PB Blaster first. I went in from the wheel well on the drivers side after jacking up the car. Thats usually where your leak will be.

 

[87NAT]

The stock drivers side manifold is your culprit. You should be able to see the crack looking from top down onto the manifold.

ANY exhaust leaks will kill the spoolup/power on these cars.

 

[Brady]

it spools up good but I do hear something. I dont have the car now to look at it. I'm assuming I'll need to replace the gasket if I need to remove and fix crack. Is it a special gasket or the same for all 3.8's of that vintage?

 

[TurboRegal84]

it spools up good but I do hear something. I dont have the car now to look at it. I'm assuming I'll need to replace the gasket if I need to remove and fix crack. Is it a special gasket or the same for all 3.8's of that vintage?

If your car has never been apart there will be no gasket. Our cars did not come with header gaskets. The headers and heads were perfectly flat from the factory.

 

[Brady]

So stupid question, if none now, how do I proceed, put back without one??

 

[The_Six]

When I replaced mine I bought ARP header studs from summit racing and then got all new copper gaskets from gbodyparts. I got the turbo and down pipe gasket in copper too.
GBodyParts.com Online

 

[TurboRegal84]

If you remove your headers and find cracks in them be sure to tell the welder to bolt the headers to a head or clamp them to avoid warping. Before installing hold the headers up to a flat edge to insure they have not warped. I would suggest a light skim coat of Permatex copper coat and bolt them back up with no gaskets. If you get get away without using gaskets it is your best bet!