Aftermarket header gaskets?
 

Does anyone know if I can use OEM gaskets with grouppe-s headers?

If not where do I find Gaskets :confused:

Cheers

Dave

I know that my HKS headers came with gaskets...
Does the place you bought them from not supply them ?

My gruppe-s manifold came with gaskets but i ended up using the OEM gasket between the collector and the flexi up pipe cos the supplied one was blowing like a cheap hooker! Other than that the rest of the fitment was easy.

Dan.

P.S. they are the small bore headers so the OEM gasket was an exact fit.

Hmm an issue

The OEM gasket will blow after a while as its only 54mm and the V1 Gruppe s are 58mm!! - i.e.not a perfect fit = problems - if they aint blowing they will do eventually

I need to get in touch with Gruppe S to c if I can get some of the V1 gaskets...........!! as no-one does them - H&S do spacers but not gaskets.........

I have had to change the up-pipe Gruppe S supplied to a flexi H&S - but again 54mm from H&S - I;ll try and get some 58mm gaskets...... and then bore out the H&S up-pipe as much as possible

Failing that the Gruppe S headers/manifold are going in the bin and I'll have to get some proper stuff

2nd Hand Mate.

Anyone tried to make there own out of say a non re-enforced CF compund?

Dave

just buy a set from the dealers

Exactly.
Or call David at API.
911

I am led to believe that my headders are actually the V2 ones as they have a cast collector. However they still did leak on the supplied gasket, this was second hand though. I put the oem gasket side by side with the supplied gruppe-s one and there deffinatley was not 4mm of difference between them, infact it looked bang on. Will check them again at the end of the week for leaks, but they have been on for about a month now with no problems yet.

Dan.

If the collector to the up-pipe is the same bore as the oem pipes why buy newones? Surely the bore should be larger there??

Dave

Just to clarify this!!

V1 Gruppe S headers and up-pipe were 58mm (they were on mine)
V2 are 54mm for h/up-pipe - i.e. same size as OEM (thats what I'm informed)

Hence if you have V2 then its nice and easy - if you aint got a flexi gruppe S up-pipe get shot of it and get a flexi replacement - H&S or Gruppe S and others do these - i.e. none flex ones puts too much pressure on the up-pipe joint

Gaskets as said are not an issue - you can get them from the dealer!!

On V1 you cannot get them - even H&S said they could not make me a gasket for them - just a spacer - I am currently aiming to get some gaskets for V1 from the Chrome Group Buy - if this doesnt work I'm stuffed - I'll be damned if I'm gonna just get some new headers..... as they are fine............

Just to recap - If you have the V1 headers you can only use the oem gasket for a short time as they will blow - as the gasket dont fit!!

Has anyone tried welding the up pipe and manifold, if so does this work and how difficult was fitting?

Mark

Didnt John Banks do this

Its certainly not the route I'll be taking - just moves the potential stress area to somewhere else - i.e. the Turbo!! - you really should'nt be welding but then I guess some kits do get sold as all in one manifold and up-pipes...........

I have the cast collector Gruppe-s headers,(Version ?, solid up-pipe) Composite gasket that came with them blew big style, The final combination that worked for me was a steel laminate with crush ring from Graham goode & a ford transit composite gasket (from an exhaust fitter). The combination of the laminate crushing & the composite being softer, sort of bedded into each other, Touch wood no blows for months @ 1.2 bar & a td05.
If that had of failed it was going to be 2 composite & the steel laminate in the middle.

Dean

The turbo is mainly mounted on the uppipe anyway in my setup, can't remember if it is 1 or 0 uppipe brackets left.

I tried H&S spacers, thermicultie, Transit gaskets, Gruppe S gaskets and some other Ford gasket.

Would be nice to weld the heads on as well :D Can you get the piston and rod in from the middle of the block Lancia style ;) ?

What matereal are transit gaskets?

John as for the heads..... 'No more nails' must be the way to go :D

The Transit gaskets I was getting from Partco (Harvey posted the details on 22b) were triple laminated steel for a while, then they switched to dodgy fibre thingies, name of the material escapes me, but just like the Gruppe S standard one - ie crap and don't take heat at all.

They are a sort of abestos (but not) with metal flecks in etc to keep it all together, Forget no nails, JB chemical metal, make your own gaskets, can be drilled tapped, Wacked, Bloody hard stuff & sticks like fly on your window, What you really need is something with the characteristics of chemical metal & no nails, but flexible

Dean

RB5 245

Sticking with the td04 for now hence OEM sized up pipe.
Bought i second hand with the headers so it seemed rude not to fit it at the same time. Goes very nicley now with a tek3 map.

Dan.

Thes look like the dogs danglies, Especially having 3 lower up-pipe securing bolts

http://www.stiracing.com/product.php?cat_id=5&id=298

Dean

Yes will be interesting to see what the price of these is from sti racing

I like the fact they are 60mm in size - poor for spool up but excellent for hi end power - although there is the obvious restriction of 51mm at the Turbo end I guess

I sort of do and dont like the 3 bolt up-pipe flange - if the materials are good it should not leak - if it does leak your a bit snookered as there aint too many after market up-pipes that are 3 bolt flanged (they all should be really) - plus who sells 60mm Up-pipe gaskets??

John

So if you weld the up-pipe to manifold (effectively doing away with the need for a gasket) are you putting any undue pressure on the set up......... I have the 54mm H&S Flexi pipe - which as stated above you cant really mate to the V1 Gruppe S Headers as they are 58mm..........

They have not cracked yet, sits quite naturally IMHO.

I think the main problem is trying to fit them once welded is it not?

If your engine is in and out all the time it isn't a problem ;)

But mine do get fitted with the engine in and I have stiff engine mounts as well.

Hmm sounds like hassle....... I think I'll start from scratch again.................. I dont really want 54mm all through though...... well I guess I only need a fix until the Turbo on my car is erm 'sorted'

I'm picking a set of oem gaskets in the morning. The plan so far is to 'dremmel' them out size.

If that fails, it's out with the welder.

Dave

So here's my solution. The dremmel Idea didn't work as i had to remove too much material. I split the gasket, then dremmeled out one of the leaves to the correct size. After that I coated each side in some industrial gun gum stuff (don't remember the maker). After a good blast It's held up well, but only time will tell I suppose. I don't have too much faith in it.

And Kudos to anyone who's had to change a set of headers without a vehicle lift. What a nightmare.

Dave

Hmm, When im rich (Erm must get rid of the scoob to become it :D)

Im investing in a lift, How much fun can you have lying on your back changing Headers , Loads NOT :D

Totally agree ther RB5

Dean

RB5

Been there, done that. They wil last circa 1000 miles tops...........

Waiting for my new Headers, Up-pipe and Gaskets to arrive from the States - should be much better than Gruppe S........ as they are circa 60mm ones..... so better for the power I want