Topic: Show me the Gasket!

[Kouros]

I'm having a difficult time with finding out if I've left a gasket inside, and if I painted over it.

What can you make out of this picture? Is it in there? If so pls point me to it.

The headers did not have the flowery thingy, I had flanges and bolts. On the old headers, behind the flanges were loose cylinders around the pipes. I thought those were the gaskets ;-| apparently not. I'm lost. HELP.

Thanks in advance.

-K

[campbmic]

Take a flat head screwdriver and dig into the area where the gasket would be. Typically gaskets are copper and you should see some copper if you scratch it. To me it looks like there is a gasket in there right around the exhauts port

[Hush]

Yup, don't be scared to dig for that sucker, it's still in there.

[jessezm]

I've been able to get at them with a hooked dental pick--screwdriver never worked for me with a really squished one...

[Alan F.]

I've been able to get at them with a hooked dental pick--screwdriver never worked for me with a really squished one...

+1 a seal pick or even a paperclip will do the job, just start at the edge of the port and wirk your way outward and you'll find it.  It may not seem like a seperate piece of metal at first but keep at it, the area the header gasket seats in is a nice square bore, no steps and no round spots.
Once you've seen the difference you'll spot the gasket easily on the next port.
-Alan

[mystic_1]

Here's your gasket.  The "loose tubes" that you describe are the clamping spacers, these transfer pressure from the finned collar to the flange on the end of the pipe, pressing it in against the exhaust port.



mystic_1

[Kouros]

Much thanks. I'm on it now.

-K