hedman headers leaking?

[JamesVW73]

ive had nothing but problems with these things since day one. ive yet to get them to seal properly where the header meets the y pipe. any tips, tricks, or suggestions to get this ball and socket joint to seal better? this ticking noise is killin me! lol

 

[bikeboarder]

they make little gaskets for those connectors that you could try. and if that doesent work weld it.

 

[JamesVW73]

they make gaskets for the ball and socket joint? odd, where can i get em?

 

[Turdle]

they make gaskets for the ball and socket joint? odd, where can i get em?

No--gaskets are not allowed--

I encountered this when I installed my headers--
It seemed the "socket" on the exhaust was out of round, compared to the "ball" on the headers--

Ok-It seemed to leak 90 degrees from each bolt, in 2 places on each tube. This meant the socket was larger there-or rather had become eccentric, or oval shaped.
I removed the headers, then used a very large set of channel lock pliers, and squeazed real hard on the socket at the leak locations to bend it back, then I smeared some "Mega Copper" silicone sealant into the "socket".

This did the trick.

 

[JamesVW73]

hmm.. mine have the 3 bolt flange. they seemed to like to rattle loose a lot. thought about taking the y pipe down and bead blasting the socket end to make sure nothing was keeping it from sealing. then maybe a good coat of copper RTV in the socket just to make sure. and just to think, its only been on about 700 miles. engine only has 700 on my fresh rebuild, and they have been leaking from day one

 

[Turdle]

Can you show a picture of the flange?

 

[JamesVW73]

i don't have one on hand, but its a standard gasketless ball and socket flange, except it has 3 bolts instead of the standard 2

 

[91exploreron37]

I posted a pic of just the headers without the y-pipe in the thread about the "4.0 buildup with 95tm heads" but the guy i got mine from gave me some some gaskets but i wound doing like everyone else and using some copper rtv sealant