I am sending off my TTI headers to be re-ceramic coated and will need some new gaskets for the reinstall of course. While digging around I found a set of copper exhaust gaskets i acquired many years ago and was going to use them.

I have never used copper gaskets on the headers before so are they good or would you go back to regular fiber gaskets?

Thank you
Stu

I have a set but didn't us them on my small block because the port shape on the gasket was much smaller than the head or header. I've had good luck with Fel Pro header gaskets.

I noticed that as well. The copper gasket has a just slightly smaller opening size then the other gaskets i had used before.

Wonder if they do that for any specific reason??

Stu you would not want any gasket overhang as that would add a restriction for no good reason & defeat the purpose. Since you have em on hand could you cut em out to match your ports. No opinion if copper is significantly better but I'm sure they would be more pricey & I'd sure think they would be better. Not sure what'd be the best sealer for them. SCE wanted me to use Indian head gasket cement (the thin brown stuff with the shoe polish type applicator) on my solid copper head gaskets

There must be a reason that the copper gaskets are made with a smaller opening than the fiber type gaskets.

Here are the ones i have:

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/sce-4064/overview/make/plymouth

I called summit today and tried to order a set of header gaskets.. There are many opening sizes. I have edelbrock heads and the salesman couldn't tell me what size edelbrock recommends. He said "we have 34 different header gaskets for a 440.. I was hoping to just slide the header back and slip the new gasket in. Kevin

I bought a set of summit brand solid copper gaskets, no problems with the port sides and no leaks so far. Brian @ IMM recommended the solid copper gaskets as well.

I would use them Stu and not worry about port size in your case. It is not that big of a deal with our street cars.

They are very tuff gaskets and can be reused many times. You know if your heads and header flanges were flat, then you would need no gasket.
I have used them on every race car I have built, but not on a street car. I think they will seal fine and last forever if your flanges are flat.

Suggestion... At least hand file your exhaust flanges and your heads flat after coating your headers to insure sealing.

I have never used any sealant on the header gaskets. Just place them on and tighten no leaks yet like that. Was i just plain lucky?

No you just had flat flanges to seal. I don't use any sealant on exhaust.

Ok that's what i thought.

Copper gaskets installed dry don't stay sealed because the gaskets don't yield. The first couple times you heat cycle the engine the header bolts will want to back out and the moment that happens the gasket is no longer tight against the head.

Copper gaskets with a thin smear of Permatex high temp copper rtv seal great, and you can reuse them over as many times as you like just by cleaning the rtv off with a wire brush and reapplying a fresh coat.

little luck here with the copper gaskets although we have removed many that leak for various reasons. We like the graphite compressible style and have little to no comebacks.

I used them once.My TTIs leaked like no gasket was there.Pulled them off and went Mr Gasket Ultras.This set has been on since I put the new heads on like 5 years ago at least.We run them on all headers and even pulled them off and reused them.Only place I use coppers is on the collectors.To me the copper and alumiun are junk.20 bucks for Mr Gaskets and years of leak free headers.Rocky

I just installed a set. I did use a thin coating of the copper sealant. I leaned the hard way to always use some sealant from now on. They do not leak.



I did have an issue with the felpro gaskets, I'm not sure why but the ports were too large and I had leaks on many cylinders. The Mr Gasket one is behind with a smaller opening. Maybe I did something wrong, but the felpro ones came with the 360 complete gasket kit? All the other gaskets worked.

What may help is to cut the header flanges between cylinders #1 & 3, 5 & 7,
2 & 4, 6 & 8.

This will allow the flanges to more easily clamp parallel to the head and seal better .

Joe

http://catalog.remflex.com/

Anti-reversion.

I never had any luck w/ those copper exhaust gaskets myself. Always used the graphite type gaskets w/ good results...like those Remflex gaskets.

So i went and did some checking with the shop who is doing the ceramic coating on my headers. He said do not use the copper gaskets as they are prone to leaking unless you anneal them first. He suggested the Remflex gaskets. He also said to not over tighten them and keep them from 7 to 10 lbs of pressure.

I am going that route so i guess the copper gaskets are back on the shelf!! Or maybe a Moparts secret Santa gift....