How the hell am I supposed to align the collector to cat OEM O ring gasket? I installed my header this weekend and have since taken the downpipe off 3 times in an effort to fix what sounds like an exhaust leak (a sucking noise after 4.5k) Today I used tape to try to hold the gasket in place as I installed the downpipe but the sound persisits. I re-used the OEM metal gasket, there is no soot around it, also, the 4-2 gasket was not leaking and was replaced today. Is there some trick to getting the gasket aligned? Are you guys using a different gasket? Or, am I just a dumbass and missing something?

 

The only thing I can think of is the nuts are backing off because I used anti-seize on them.

 

If there is no soot, it might not be leaking...

 

get the car off the ground, start it, and have a friend keep his foot over the exhaust pipe, then get under there and feel around for air blowing out hard, that will be your leak

it could just be the header making the sound....

 

could it be a vacuum leak instead of an exhaust leak, if the exhaust note sounds normal, could be a vacuum leak, possible from iab or something under the IM so it just sounds like its the collector area but its not...

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by mgags7 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">get the car off the ground, start it, and have a friend keep his foot over the exhaust pipe, then get under there and feel around for air blowing out hard, that will be your leak

it could just be the header making the sound....</TD></TR></TABLE>
I tired to feel around it with it at idle, i'll try this way.

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by twistedbydezign &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">could it be a vacuum leak instead of an exhaust leak, if the exhaust note sounds normal, could be a vacuum leak, possible from iab or something under the IM so it just sounds like its the collector area but its not...</TD></TR></TABLE>
I didn't play with any vac hose's, and my idle is normal, but I'll give everything a lookover.

Any tips on how to align this gasket properly?

 

there are not any "tips" that i know of, after all if the gasket lines up on the flange with the 3 bolts its good to go unless one of the flanges is warped or something.

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by v4lu3s &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">there are not any "tips" that i know of, after all if the gasket lines up on the flange with the 3 bolts its good to go unless one of the flanges is warped or something.</TD></TR></TABLE>
It's hard for me to properly align the metal O ring gasket, because it is slightly larger than the collector. Also, neither the collector, nor the cat, have a indentation for the gasket to fit into, basically its being held in and aligned by the torque of the bolts. I was wondering if there was a trick, tenchnique, or another gasket people are using.

 

Probly the only real way to find out is to give it some gas and feal around connection areas with your hand for leaks. It also could be a vaccum leak, mabye you acidentally undid a line while installing it? best of luck

 

ah i take it you are trying to use the OEM ring?
when i saw aftermarket header i assumed you were using the aftermarket gasket that is supposed to go with it.

 

my exhaust doesnt have rings for gaskets...but if its possible to leave the ring out and put a regular gasket in there, pep boys sells some decent gasket sheets made of cork orsomething...you gotta cut them to fit but i double layered mine and it works well

 

Just go to any auto parts store and by some gasket material and cut out a gasket in the shape of the "house" flange where the downpipe meets the cat and just eliminate that stupid *** metal ring all together, thats what I did and it works great

EDIT: I just noticed the guy above me said the same thing, but yea, he's got the right idea

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by v4lu3s &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">ah i take it you are trying to use the OEM ring?
when i saw aftermarket header i assumed you were using the aftermarket gasket that is supposed to go with it.</TD></TR></TABLE>
Yes,

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by weenie &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">my exhaust doesnt have rings for gaskets...but if its possible to leave the ring out and put a regular gasket in there, pep boys sells some decent gasket sheets made of cork orsomething...you gotta cut them to fit but i double layered mine and it works well</TD></TR></TABLE>
I saw that **** there but didin't think much of since it was rated at only like 350deg. I'll go to pep boys and see what they have.

 

hmm i dont remember seeing a temp rating on mine...my greddy exhaust is old, so the flanges are really badly pitted, but the pep boys gaskets and a dab of muffler mender on the bottom and it doesnt leak.