Header leaks, Header gasket questions. Port size?

[Jack]

Since I began using my Pro-parts headers, they just will not hold any header gasket.  The last one I used was a fancy 7 layer aluminum gasket, but that blew out.     I'm pulling the headers out to have the flanges trued, and maybe coat the headers...  It appears the opening on the header is much larger than the gasket,  I think the exhaust gas is just beating the gasket out.  My final thought is to use a carbon gasket and open it up to the dimensions of the header.  Any thoughts? 

Who makes the largest port exhaust gasket? Summit has a couple of different sized listed,1.78x.1.48 seems to be standard. 

Thanks

[Dartsport]

I don't use any gaskets at all!! Just Ultra Copper - orange silicone by permatex, #101br

[abodyjoe]

 i used to run the mr. gasket ultra seals with a lite cora uf ultra copper on my pro parts and never had a problem..

[b569rr]

I had leak problems on my RR and I switched to the Mr. Gasket ultra seals with copper gasket sealer two years ago and I have no problems.

Like Dart sport said, my brother had his header flanges trued and runs nothing but gasket sealer. Flanges are 3/8".

Tom

[vitamindart]

i just ran the good felpros and some ultra copper fixed my pro parts good
just put on the ultra copper let it set up a little and bolt them down never leaked again

[67devildart]

Jack,
not sure this will help or not, but I got the latest issue of summit and in it I found this:

Percy's XX Carbon Gaskets- Header flange gaskets

PHP-68070--- 3" X 20" "cut-your-own-gasket" sheet

It's $14.95 each, but might be something to consider.

HOPE THIS HELPS SOMEWHAT!

Eric

[Bakaruda]

I would say start by truing the flange like you said. If the flange is not true you are hitting a brick wall.

[Jack]

Eric,  I saw that too,  I think I'd start with the same big block gaskets, and open those up to fit.  Thanks

[PureGTS]

  Most of your problems are probably the flanges being bent or a bad gasket surface on the header. If you tighten the poo out of the bolts you can bend the flange and actually make the problem worse. I've known folks to double up the gaskets and RTV them. Even RTV them in between and they still blow out. Check the flanges with a file (poor mans straight edge) to see if they are warped/bent.
  I, personally, use a thick gasket I get at the local swap meet. Nothing else and it goes on dry. I don't believe in RTV use for something that sees temps above 1200 degrees when RTV is only rated for 350 degrees. It's just more stuff you have to clean up later.

[mjudd]

you can cut a slit or remove the material between the bolt holes. That worked well for me, put a stop to the annoying gasket leaks. 

[Dono]

you can cut a slit or remove the material between the bolt holes. That worked well for me, put a stop to the annoying gasket leaks. 

Yes that is some times the best way.  You might find a performance loss with hoging out the exghaust gasket to the size of the header.  Match it to the exghaust port on the head and it will give the port more CC's.