Is the SOR stainless j pipe worth it?

[lt1823]

I just replaced my stock exhaust manifold with some el cheapo headers that were not flat by any means. I used a remflex gasket rather than an oem. I drove the truck across the country shortly thereafter. I have no leaks at the manifold and I am 100% shocked that it held up. I genuinely expected a total failure and it might happen sometime in the future but I’ve got nearly 3,500 miles on it and it’s still sealing a very unflat surface.

Getting read to drive from OH to OR so I hope I have the same experience haha

 

[lt1823]

General consensus (including my own experience) is that the OEM or Remflex gaskets are your best bet.

But if the flange on your J-pipe is not flat, any gasket will burn out quickly. So check the flange. The SOR stainless J-pipe solved the flatness problem for a lot of people, including me.

Did you have a hard time getting the SOR J Pipe to fit? Ive been hearing there will some vice grip manhandling involved. Any tips?

 

[lt1823]

I've had to change that M!$&%$!ng gasket 3 times in 10K miles, since engine was rebuilt, at time of rebuild, I switched to the SOR pipe.

I used the OE Toyota gasket first two times, then the last time, at the suggestion of @ToyotaMatt I relented and used a Remflex, at their torque specs, and no sealant.

So far so good.

What Matt suggested was happening was bolts or studs were loosening and exhaust gas was leaking and very quickly eats up the gasket.

Use the correct 'Locking' exhaust-style Fasteners.

Along with using the correct Locking exhaust style fasteners, do you recommend using like loctite 271 on the studs?

 

[Spike Strip]

I didn't, but I double-nut'd the stud to make sure they were good and tight in the manifold. Prolly not a bad idea to use some thread locker, but not necessary. It would certainly prevent the studs from loosening.