I had problems reusing my stock gaskets, I bought some FelPros and used the spray copper stuff I posted earlier, no leaks now.... The only real what I found to see if it was leaking was to unbolt the header and look at the gasket...

 

What kind of problems was the leaking causing?

 

How could you tell it was leaking by looking at it?

Im going to get some O2 safe silicone or mabey try the spray on stuff.

For the headers to catback I wonder if you could find a gasket or something to make that seal better?

 

it was throwing my AFR way off, in deceleration AFR was really lean and medium to high load areas were unstable/unpredicable....

logs of each stock O2 sensors were really different.....


I personally like the spray on stuff!!! Used it for years with composite gaskets...

here are some pics of the stock gaskets, the black areas are where it was leaking... I cleaned a little bit of it off before, anyways it is soooo much better now... I think the main problem was I installed the stock gaskets in upside down and backwards, maybe that screwed up the gaskets, I dunno.... After I flipped the stock gasket around is was a little better, then I just said screw it and bought new gaskets...

 

so im guessin its better to reuse stock gaskets and bolts? correct? also how many ppl have trouble with the crossmember.. im gettin nervous about this install.. im about to pay to have someone with a lift and air tools to do it for me, bc i need it for work on monday and i only have sunday to work on it.

 

reuse the stock gaskets, you can reuse the stock bolts (with never seize) or get new ones, up to you - TORQUE them properly.

dropping the trans crossmember isn't bad at all, just the transmission mount and 4 more bolts, quite simple actually, a jack will help support the tranny in the mean time

 

i've done all three of my header installs on my back in the dirt. QUIT BEIN A *****...READ UP AND DO IT!!!!!!!

 

I wouldn't reuse the stock bolts. They suck I had 2 or 3 that had the heads broke off that I had to remove before I could get my headers installed.

 

I took everything off and got it together and fitting better.
I also used O2 safe copper gasket on all the connection.

But I made one mistake, the band clamp that clamps the passenger side header with the Y-pipe was turned down to much and I installed everything then realized what I did so now I get a ratteling noise.

So what im thinking is getting a rubber shim and hammering it inbetween the crossmember and the band clamp. Hopefully it won't melt then.

I also had to take the drivers side heat shield completely off to stop the dirvers side header from vibrating against it.

 

You can try that, but the exhaust tends to move around a fair amount so I think if you just hammer something in there it will probably fall out as the things shift and vibrate.