Header Bolts

[DHERRIN]

My header bolts keep coming loose no matter what I do. Im going to pull the headers and try the anti seize coating trick on them. What locking header bolts do you guys use? I am tired of changing gaskets all the time. I have the Headman 65104 headers if that makes a difference.

 

[BondoSpecial]

What gaskets are you using?

 

[muscl car]

use a header gasket like what's available from remflex and never have a loose header bolt or exh leak ever again !!!! . i was using mr gasket standard header gaskets and was blowing them out almost every 3-4 months until i was given a set of remflex gaskets to try and these have been on my motor now for over a year with no leaks or loose header bolts

http://catalog.remflex.com/

 

[olstyle]

I have used these on many cars for many years including my old circle track stock cars and never had one come loose. I even use the cheap gaskets that come with the header still with no problems. Of caurse they are on my 74z also.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/STG-8911

 

[Gary S]

What gaskets are you using?

+1^
Most of the problems with header bolts loosening up are not the bolts, but the gaskets. The cheap gaskets that come with most headers will give you problems until they burn out and then if you replace them with the same gaskets, your problems start over again.
I use the simple cheap bolts that come with the headers and a single lock washer under each bolt. I found some low priced header gaskets at a local speed shop that don't allow the bolts to loosen up. They are made by (would you believe?) Honest George's Gaskets in San Bernadino. Check your local speed shops and see if they have them.
I have been using these gaskets on my Camaro and my daily driver pickup for over 20 years. On my pickup, I had to replace the headers because they rusted out. The gaskets were still good so I reused them on the new headers, and after another 10 or so years, they still work on the second set of headers through summer temperatures of over 110 degrees and winter temperatures of lower than -40.

You can spend money on better bolts, but if your gaskets compress, you will still have leaks, or you can find gaskets that don't compress and your problems end.

 

[DHERRIN]

Im just using the mr. gasket ones. I was told by someone a while ago to try the remflex gaskets, but never caught on. What if I were to get the remflex gaskets and locking bolts? Problem solved?

 

[BondoSpecial]

Are they Mr. gasket white paper or the premium graphite coated ones (Mr Gasket Ultra Seals). If they are white paper, there's your problem. Even the Mr Gasket Ultra seal graphite ones that any auto parts store will have in stock, with a regular lock nut, should not loosen.

 

[muscl car]

Im just using the mr. gasket ones. I was told by someone a while ago to try the remflex gaskets, but never caught on. What if I were to get the remflex gaskets and locking bolts? Problem solved?

i'm using regular style header bolts and the remflex gaskets and no header leaks in over a year !!!!

 

[DHERRIN]

Yep, just the white paper ones are the ones I have been using.

 

[DHERRIN]

I will try the remflex gaskets, with a lock washer and the bolts that came with the headers. Thanks you guys!