Blown collector gasket and fire inside

[dennis77578]

I had a problem last week with the passenger side header flange bolts backing off. Got them retightened the other day.

This morning I was driving down a freeway where there was no shoulder or exit for about 3-4 miles and the gasket blew. Started smelling something not funny, then smoke inside. Finally got pulled over and pulled the carpet up and there was an area of the padding smoldering..had hell pulling it out..glad I had a sharp pocket knife. I would have never thought the metal would get hot enough to start this.

Just a heads up...and yes keep a fire extinguisher in your vehicle..you could save yours or someone elses.

Now..to get a new gasket on and some bolts that \"Won\'t Back Down\"



<font size=1>[ This message was edited by: dennis77578 on 2004-11-02 19:18 ]</font>

[ZR1BLAZER]

spend the extra money and buy a good set of aluminum or copper collector gaskets. also use a set of stainless steel bolts with locking nuts like the factory stuff so they dont back out. and you will never blow a gasket again. i use them on everything along with copper header gaskets.and stage 8 locking stainless hardware.

[mzoomora]

Get the soft metal ones (aluminum or copper), and you can also jam nut the bolts. If you torque up a second nut to the first they almost never back off.

[dennis77578]

Yea..I don\'t want to fool with this again..PITA

So I assume I can get teh gaskets at a speed shop? and bolts?

I don\'t like dealing with parts store dummies.





On 2004-11-02 19:22, ZR1BLAZER wrote:

spend the extra money and buy a good set of aluminum or copper collector gaskets. also use a set of stainless steel bolts with locking nuts like the factory stuff so they dont back out. and you will never blow a gasket again. i use them on everything along with copper header gaskets.and stage 8 locking stainless hardware.

[ZR1BLAZER]

get it all from summit. tell them what ya have and they will give ya what ya need.

[Scotty_S-15]

On 2004-11-02 20:14, ZR1BLAZER wrote:

get it all from summit. tell them what ya have and they will give ya what ya need.



It\'s really a shame, it\'s tough for a \"Mom & Pop\" speed shop anymore.... but it\'s really tough to beat Summit/Jeg\'s, etc. I feel bad about it, but screw \"Mom & Pop\"!!!

......... Jeg\'s/Summit are just so damned efficient.....

........ And BTW, I use all aluminum and copper gaskets, and I\'ve got a mess of \'em! Lets see.....8 sets of flanges on my system!

[ChevyKiD_69]

so which is better copper or aluminum? i dont know. i dont have the exuast on my s10 right now its really sounds nice but it is cold dont want to suck a valve. lol

[spacecadet]

The copper ones or aluminium ones do work good I have heard. Make sure not to over tighten the bolts as it will bend the flanges and then they will leak just like also. Loc-tite or jamb nuts. I preferer jamb nuts.



I got tired of replaceing mine so I eliminated them by installing \'ball and flange\' joints. There is a shot of them in my pics.

[gdmclnh]

My Sanderson shorty conversion headers came with ball and bell type joint. I didn\'t know they had them, but I really like them. You can angle the pipe quite a bit and still have a tight joint.