Collector Flange hardware

[cougar9150]

I have Kooks header w/the 3 bolt 2.5" flange. About every 2-3 weeks I have to go under the car and tighten up the hardware. I have tried lock washers, nylon lock nuts, loctite, and it still seems to start leaking again after a few weeks.

I'm using the reusable soft aluminum gaskets and they seal great I just keeping having issue with the hardware loosening up over time. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

If I ever order new headers it will be with the ball flange for the ball/cup type seal.

[FordNut]

Mr Gasket Ultra Seal gaskets and Mr Gasket collector bolts with locking nuts.

[musclemerc]

You coule always strike the top of the bolt with a small chisle to booger the threads

[burt ragio]

Do to high temps & nylon lock nuts are a bad choice. As for the type of loctite you used you would have to use specific high temp loctite for it to be effective. Just use a 2nd nut to lock the 1st.

[bob6364]

Double nut them.

[TooManyFords]

Double nut them.

That's what she said!!

:D

[bob6364]

That's what she said!!

:D

I wish you would have told me sooner...she prolly ain't in the mood no more....

[NATEHAWK]

I got SW Long tubes and they attach with a band clamp right from the end of the header to the Cat....No leaks at all

[FordNut]

Do to high temps & nylon lock nuts are a bad choice.


Mr Gasket Ultra Seal gaskets and Mr Gasket collector bolts with locking nuts.

Use what I said. They're not nylock locknuts, and they're not castellated, they are the flattened style. They come with the bolts, in a Mr Gasket pkg of 3 each.

[cougar9150]

Use what I said. They're not nylock locknuts, and they're not castellated, they are the flattened style. They come with the bolts, in a Mr Gasket pkg of 3 each.

Hey Fordnut are these the ones your talking about http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MRG-3413/?

In the description they don't say anything about locking so I wanted to make sure before I went to over to my local shop to order them.

I also found these from stage 8 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/STG-8950/ which I may just use with the gaskets you suggested. I'm doen w/the soft aluminum gaskets. I don't think it is the hardware that is the problem but the soft aluminum Percy's gasket constantly expanding and shrinking.

[FordNut]

Hey Fordnut are these the ones your talking about http://www.summitracing.com/parts/MRG-3413/?

In the description they don't say anything about locking so I wanted to make sure before I went to over to my local shop to order them.

I also found these from stage 8 http://www.summitracing.com/parts/STG-8950/ which I may just use with the gaskets you suggested. I'm doen w/the soft aluminum gaskets. I don't think it is the hardware that is the problem but the soft aluminum Percy's gasket constantly expanding and shrinking.

That's the ones. I find them at Advance, Auto Zone, and O'Reilly's depending on which store has them in current stock. That's where I get the gaskets too.

[cougar9150]

Thanks fordnut, I picked everything up a couple local stores but had to use longer bolts. Seems the flange on the x-pipe side is overly thick as the 1" bolts barely poked a couple threads through. Not enough to safely get a nut started.

My old aluminum gasket had really become distorted and started hanging out the flange on the bottom side. I am really surprised how distorted it is, making me think that my exhaust is running overly hot and explains why the latest high temp coating on the headers is already peeling.

A/F was good when I got the tune so I shouldn't be running lean. I'm going to have to get an IR thermometer and see what the actual temps are when the engine has been running for awhile.

[FordNut]

My old aluminum gasket had really become distorted and started hanging out the flange on the bottom side. I am really surprised how distorted it is, making me think that my exhaust is running overly hot and explains why the latest high temp coating on the headers is already peeling.

It shouldn't peel if it's properly applied.

[cougar9150]

It shouldn't peel if it's properly applied.

I know and this is my second go round with the same guy. The problem is that a buddy of mine had his 69 Camaro headers done at the same time as my second attempt with the higher temp coating. His are holding up fine and mine are peeling again. Not sure if it something with this set of Kooks, my car exhaust running hotter (it's turbo black coating so it should take the heat),or the coater himself. Mainly it is starting to peel at the bends in the tube and where a the primary tubes and the collector are welded. Not anywhere that may have gotten something on the headers during install.

I've already decided I'm going to eat the cost with the first guy and bring them to Brother Powder Coatings for next time I do a tear down. It will probably be once I am getting ready to install my eaton setup because I think I want to install a new motor at the same time. Going to go with traditional ceramic coating instead of the colorized temp coatings.

[LANDY]

yesterday i change the oem gasket that was leaking on the passanger side and i noticed my collector bolts were loose also.
thanks Brian, now im going with Mr Gasket.
Phil it seems like you and i are hooked on taking these LT's in and out.
im on my sixth time. hope to be the last time, unless the engine blows and i get an Aluminator.:D

[Joe Walsh]

Use what I said. They're not nylock locknuts, and they're not castellated, they are the flattened style. They come with the bolts, in a Mr Gasket pkg of 3 each.

Whew!
Luckily the nuts aren't castellated....That sounds like it hurts!

:D

[cougar9150]

yesterday i change the oem gasket that was leaking on the passanger side and i noticed my collector bolts were loose also.
thanks Brian, now im going with Mr Gasket.
Phil it seems like you and i are hooked on taking these LT's in and out.
im on my sixth time. hope to be the last time, unless the engine blows and i get an Aluminator.:D

We're becoming pros at it Landy. Got the new gaskets and hardware installed, took it for ride, got it nice and hot then cruised by the wall I listen for exhaust leaks on. Only exhaust noise is coming from the tail pipes.

Thanks for the advice yet again Brian.

[FordNut]

We're becoming pros at it Landy. Got the new gaskets and hardware installed, took it for ride, got it nice and hot then cruised by the wall I listen for exhaust leaks on. Only exhaust noise is coming from the tail pipes.

Thanks for the advice yet again Brian.

You may want to retighten them after a heat cycle just for good measure.

[tallpaul]

Miller and Lincoln make good hardware fasteners. They are a bit expensive though. Just kidding you. If the blue loctite didn't work you could try the red but you will have to use heat to get it off.

[musclemerc]

Are you running an EGR valve?



Thanks fordnut, I picked everything up a couple local stores but had to use longer bolts. Seems the flange on the x-pipe side is overly thick as the 1" bolts barely poked a couple threads through. Not enough to safely get a nut started.

My old aluminum gasket had really become distorted and started hanging out the flange on the bottom side. I am really surprised how distorted it is, making me think that my exhaust is running overly hot and explains why the latest high temp coating on the headers is already peeling.

A/F was good when I got the tune so I shouldn't be running lean. I'm going to have to get an IR thermometer and see what the actual temps are when the engine has been running for awhile.

[FordNut]

Are you running an EGR valve?

Not me....

[cougar9150]

Are you running an EGR valve?

Yup everything but the 2nd set of cats emissions wise. Did have to replace it and the upstream O2 sensors recently.

Went and tightened the hardware after the 1st days commute. No leaks, sounds better than it has in awhile. Guess it was pretty much leaking as soon as it warmed up.

Soft seal aluminum gaskets suck.