[0pyders]

I'm talking about these: http://www.summitracing.com/parts/PHP-66012/?rtype=10


Are they supposed to have 2 pieces per side? I don't know if it's supposed to be MLS and I'm supposed to stack em' or they accidentally gave me 4... Look at this:



They're only stuck together at one end. All four look the exact same in every way. The heck am I supposed to do with this?

[66GMC]

I have double-gasketed using paper (asbestos? in the old days?) gaskets, but those aluminum ones should be thick enough to do it singley.

I developed a bit of a routine when it came to installing those paper gaskets.
1.) tighten
2.) idle until up to operating temp.
3.) tighten
4.) go for a short drive around the block without getting on it too bad.
5.) tighten
6.) turn it off and allow everthing to cool.
7.) tighten
8.) restart, idle until warm
9.) tighten
10.) take it out on the highway and drive it like you stole it.
11.) tighten

Every Sunday
Re-tighten.

I had this really nice (inexpensive) double box-end wrench (3/8" x 7/16") that I heated up with the torch and hammered more or less flat that snuck right in there. It was about 10" long, so you could get a fair amount of leverage on it.

I still have that wrench, come to think of it!

[CHEVYRODS]

The ones in the Summitt link are not the same as the pictures. The gaskets you have in the picture are going to last maybe a week before leaking on both ends.

[DoubleVision]

Many don`t know when using paper gaskets they`re supposed to be soaked in water for 24 hours. This does 2 things, the water makes the gasket swell for better sealing and the water makes it hold moisture so it resists burn out.
However, in the past I`ve seen guys buy the real expensive header gaskets as they got tired of fixing leaks. I`d laugh because I`m running gaskets that cost about 7 bucks. I go to the parts store and get the Fel Pro stock chevy exhaust manifold gaskets. These are steel mesh and they have to be gotten really hot before they`ll burn out. The good part is they are slotted so you can simply loosen the header and drop them in, you don`t have to remove the header which saves about a hours worth of work and a heck of a lot of aggravation as getting headers to bolt back up is a pain in the assets. Cool part is I`ve reused one set 3 times and no leaks at all.
When header bolts are new they haven`t seasoned in, so they always work there way loose until they do so the tightness has to be checked every other day. When I`m going to be using new header bolts, I throw them in a pan of water, let it boil awhile, then let them cool, then keep repeating the process. This cuts the seasoning time in half when installed on the engine.
I see those gaskets costs 30 bucks. Back in the race days and of course a working man`s race car is a budget car I was happy to spend 7 on the exhaust manifold gaskets and use the rest of the cash for small items such as a wire loom kit or synthetic lubricants.

[0pyders]

I just need to know if your supposed to stack these things together or not..does anyone know?

[66GMC]

My guess is that they were double-gasketed in an attempt to compensate for warped flanges.

Cheap headers are notorious for having thin flanges, and SBC's have a lot of distance between the center and outside ports, which make those flanges a little more susceptible.

Run a straightedge over them and have a look. Get some THICK soft aluminum gaskets.

[SSedan64]

Looks like some Blem/Blemished gaskets & they just gave you 2 sets. The easy install hooks on the ends are missing.

[CHEVYRODS]

As said earlier they sent you 2 sets because they are rejects. Double header gaskets is just twice as prone to leak. I would send them back and get some descent gaskets. There is not enough material on the ends of those gaskets to seal.