Header Gaskets
Printed From: The Ford Torino Page
Category: Model Specific Forum
Forum Name: General Automotive Technical Discussion
Forum Description: Technical Automotive discussion of anything not specific to mid-size Ford/Merc
URL: https://forum.grantorinosport.org/forum_posts.asp?TID=20894
Printed Date: 26-March-2026 at 3:27PM
Software Version: Web Wiz Forums 12.06 - https://www.webwizforums.com
Topic: Header Gaskets
Posted By: 72FordGTS
Subject: Header Gaskets
Date Posted: 27-August-2023 at 12:40PM
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I am looking at replacing my leaking header collector gaskets. I was thinking of using some dead soft aluminum gaskets instead of the paper ones I have. Summit has copper ones for a little cheaper price. Any opinions or experiences to share before I order? I am sure either are better than paper. https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mrg-7420g" rel="nofollow - https://www.summitracing.com/parts/mrg-7420g https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pte-66001" rel="nofollow - https://www.summitracing.com/parts/pte-66001 https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-620125" rel="nofollow - https://www.summitracing.com/parts/sum-620125 ------------- Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
Replies:
Posted By: 72 RS 351
Date Posted: 27-August-2023 at 3:13PM
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The last link of a copper pair looks like the best chance to seal well. I like their appearance, they look fairly thin with a surface shape that might seal well. I hated my first set of 351C headers, the collectors that is. They barely leaked a month or so after install, but the first speed bump I grazed made it worse, and I never could stop the leak. That was 1982 etc, we didn't have the better gasket choices like now. I suggest checking and making the two halves as flat or matching as possible, and add some Ultra Copper to the gasket surfaces as well. Hopefully you have nice mating halves of the collectors, so they do seal okay. I got the Hooker headers a month or so back, I don't know how they are going to fit, but I like the quality in hand. I plan to weld on V-band flanges to seal securely and change it from 3" to 2.5" pipes somewhere nearby.
------------- Don 73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
Posted By: californiajohnny
Date Posted: 29-August-2023 at 10:39PM
i have the mr gasket copper ones like that in my vette but no leaks and they've been in there for several years
------------- JOHN 74 GRAN TORINO S&H CLONE 74 VETTE CUSTOM 90 S10 BLAZER 4X4 LIFTED 77 CELICA CUSTOM 75 V8 MONZA SUPERCHARGED 79 COURIER VERT. SLAMMED 75 VEGA V6 5 SPD 70 CHEV C10 P/U 68 MUSTANG FB CONVERSION |
Posted By: aquartlow
Date Posted: 30-August-2023 at 12:30PM
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Vince, FWIW, I have had great luck using Flatout brand graphite header gaskets, never had any leaks and some of the margins between header port and the head's port are less than 1/8" in places. They are re-usable if need be. Good luck with whatever you choose. ------------- www.supermotors.net/22468 Yeah, It's a Hybrid...It burns gas and tires. No matter how good she looks, somebody, somewhere, is tired of her sh*t. Beauty is skin deep, ugliness goes clear to the bone. |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 01-September-2023 at 3:28PM
Vince have you considered using only RTV, skip the gaskets? ------------- 72 GT Ute |
72 RS 351 wrote:Posted By: 72FordGTS
Date Posted: 02-September-2023 at 3:24AM
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Thanks for the feedback guys, sound like the cooper should work well. My gaskets are leaking at both the heads and the collectors. Both are just using the hooker paper gaskets. I bought a set of Taylor Aluminum seal-4 good header gaskets for the heads a while ago, just haven't got them installed and now the collectors are leaking too. So I am hoping to get both fixed this fall before I put the car away for winter. It sounds like crap. Rock, no I hadn't really considered RTV. I have heard mixed reviews on those who have used it. The other thing I like about metal gaskets is that they are reusable and cleaner than RTV. ------------- Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
Posted By: 72FordGTS
Date Posted: 02-September-2023 at 3:25AM
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Thanks for the feedback guys, sound like the cooper or the flat out graphite gaskets should work well. My gaskets are leaking at both the heads and the collectors. Both are just using the hooker paper gaskets. I bought a set of Taylor Aluminum seal-4 good header gaskets for the heads a while ago, just haven't got them installed and now the collectors are leaking too. So I am hoping to get both fixed this fall before I put the car away for winter. It sounds like crap. Rock, no I hadn't really considered RTV. I have heard mixed reviews on those who have used it. The other thing I like about metal gaskets is that they are reusable and cleaner than RTV. ------------- Vince 1972 Ford GTS Sportsroof - Survivor, One Family car GTS.org Admin |
Posted By: Rockatansky
Date Posted: 02-September-2023 at 6:07AM
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wipes with a cloth, trims with a blade and smooths with a finger, i just can't justify the $ for the fancy gaskets when what i see as a 100% seal solution comes out of a tube and is available at nearly every store i pass for <$10 ------------- 72 GT Ute |
Posted By: 72 RS 351
Date Posted: 02-September-2023 at 2:47PM
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The Ultra Copper will seal very well as long as there aren't any large gaps to fill, just a decent surface to surface match. The collectors are the worst because the flange halves are vibrating constantly, and slightly flexible. If you can get them to seal, be satisfied and don't touch them any more, plus don't rub any speed bumps etc. I planned ages ago to cut off any common three bolt flange, and weld on v-band flanges. Those interlock securely and shouldn't ever leak. ------------- Don 73 Ranchero "Sport 72 front end", floor shift/console, planning EFI 7000 rpm 351 stroker 73 Ranchero GT 351C-4V &4R70W for sale later. 92 Lincoln Mark VII SE GTC, OBDII 347/4R70W |
Posted By: Greg73Oregon
Date Posted: 04-September-2023 at 8:13PM
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I used Ford Performance gaskets. Didn't have any issues. But I have stainless steel headers. ------------- GKF |