Recently I've been battling exhaust manifold leaks on the log side, my stock gasket leaked with all the bolts still tight, put in a napa felpro gasket (not mls) that leaks still, so I bought a set of seal 4 good aluminum multi layer aluminum gaskets. I was wondering if its worth it to get header studs too. But are stainless ones going to be strong enough to support a turbo log? Because I know stainless is equivalent to not even a grade 5 right?

 

i am using header studs no leaks, factory gaskest and hi temp silicone .7400 miles mies on new build

 

My studs or stock bolts never leaked with reused stock gaskets. Are you prepping the surfaces by cleaning them real good. Common mistake...

 

The flange is probably warped.

 

Yeah I figured the flange is warped but what can you do to fix it get it machined? Wont it just warp again?

I thought about using silicone but then I have to worry about scraping the surfaces clean after, thats why I liked the factory gaskets

 

Use gm factory studs on all builds i do...can be had cheap and very stout

 

GM makes factory studs?

 

Yes....you use them from a fwd v6...part numbers used to be listed on this site

 

interesting... didnt know there were factory studs. I'd love to see a part number

 

Yup full set cheaper then ARP been using them for last 8 years or so

Only down fall you gotta order extra since a v6 doesnt have enough

Part numbers used to be a sticky

Think its like 40 bucks or so