SOR Header Flaw?? (1 Viewer)

[Downey]

emac, if Remflex does not recommend using Copper Coat then they must be living in an imaginary world where everything was manufactured perfectly. Long laser cut pieces warp during cutting, further warp during welding on the exhaust pipes, and all Header manufacturers (including Downey) can not create "long" Headers with perfectly straight flanges. BUT (and I've said this a zillion times) no matter what gasket you use, it is paint-on copper coat that "bakes-on" and seals those Headers, even in it's present condition. Just try c-clamping it to a piece of rigid metal off the rig and you'll see how easy it pulls in. If I'm wrong, then go back and talk to SOR.

 

[Coastline]

emac, if Remflex does not recommend using Copper Coat then they must be living in an imaginary world where everything was manufactured perfectly. Long laser cut pieces warp during cutting, further warp during welding on the exhaust pipes, and all Header manufacturers (including Downey) can not create "long" Headers with perfectly straight flanges. BUT (and I've said this a zillion times) no matter what gasket you use, it is paint-on copper coat that "bakes-on" and seals those Headers, even in it's present condition. Just try c-clamping it to a piece of rigid metal off the rig and you'll see how easy it pulls in. If I'm wrong, then go back and talk to SOR.

I Dunno' Jim. The Remflex has a super amount of crush with a low torque. The quality of my Downey headers might be far above the SOR but subsequent burnoff of the copper coat and warpage/loosened bolts after 6,000 miles was a complete pain when it came time to re smog. But, I've only got about 4,000 miles on the truck since the change out. Also, i installed all new bolts and nuts with high temp Lock Tite. Time, or miles, will tell.

From RemFlex web site:

No Re-Torquing Necessary: Remflex exhaust gaskets rebound 30%, creating an optimum seal that eliminates the need to re-torque!

Mitch Schliebs

 

[Downey]

Well ok then, hope the Remflex works without Copper Coat. The trick with Copper Coat is that it "bakes" onto all four surfaces (head, header, both sides of the gasket) so it really doesn't matter which gasket you use or how much the gasket might rebound back. The down side with Copper Coat is that it will be a pita to remove (just like a head gasket) when the time comes to work on the engine- - -must be scrapped off!!!

 

[Captn Conch]

If you return to SOR they will probably not pay for return shipping. I like SOR as a resource and their customer service is light years better then it used to be...Hopefully, if returned you can successfully work it out.

 

[antFJ]

just put the dang header on all ready. double up the gaskets use copper coat on everything and it will be fine. 6 years and 35,000 miles later my SOR headers are doing just fine with 2 rando gaskets and coppercoat.

 

[antFJ]

also i can back up jim on scraping off copper coat.. had to dissasemble my wifes heep after a year because the maniverter i installed last year failed. It was a bitch to clean the 4 cylinders head since it backs right up against the firewall. That gasket was stuck on there.

 

[sggoat]

Back in the early 80's i had a cracked stock exhaust manifold and installed a header on the 74 fj40. That was before the internet and it was all trial and error. I lucked out after maching both the manifolds so the nut surface of the flange on both manifolds was the same thickness.

what he said-no probs with mine either after the same machining-going on almost 3 yrs now. If you don't get them(intake/exhaust) flat in the beginning, you will continue to put band-aids on them----

 

[Pin_Head]

Remflex gaskets are made of 1/8 thick graphite, so gasket glue does't stick to it. No need because they crush a lot and can seal a 1/16 inch gap. My experience is that they are a good product and will take care of warped flanges.

 

[dirtyjobs]

Alright, headers are on. Ramflex gasket made any sort of gap disappear when the bolts were just snug. By the time I had them all tightened I could tell all would be fine. Didn't use the copper gasket either. Ran it for about 30 minutes while I adjusted the valves. All seems good to go-time will tell though. Thanks again for everyones input.

 

[Downey]

I flat knew it, Header pulled right in with barely more than finger pressure only on the bolts.