Exhaust manifold problems

[Dstratt01]

One of the first things I did to my talon was put on a Pacestter tubular header. I cant seem to find a way to keep it from blowing out the gaskets on both the head and the turbo. It may be warped or I am over/under torquing it. One question I have is with an aftermarket header are people still running the stock exhaust donut on the turbo side or could that be causing enough pressure to blow the gaskets out? I also invested in a solid copper gasket on the head and it seems to be holding up but I cant find one for the turbo side. Anyone have any thoughts/ recommendations? Also is there a simple test to see if it is slightly warped or not?

 

[TSITurbo95]

Firstly, if your using a pacesetter or any other tubular manifold, you don't use the sealing ring (donut). You just use a regular gasket, and port (remove the step). As for blowing out the gasket, that could be by using the donut ring when you dont need to, and/or your not tightening the bolts enough.

 

[2slow4now]

If you have a straight edge and some feeler gauges then yeah by all means check to see if it's warped.

Lay the straight edge diagonally and use the feeler gauges under it on the gasket surface. Do it diagonally the other way then all the way across the gasket surface lengthwise then width wise. If you get different measurements then you can figure out if it is warped and how much. Make sense?

If it were completely flat and level then you shouldn't be able to fit a feeler gauge under any point along the straight edge.

 

[BogusSVO]

Here this may help on checking for warp.

http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/newbie-forum/452489-backyard-straight-edge.html#post153147462

The pattern for checking that 2slow4now is explaining.
http://www.dsmtuners.com/forums/articles-engine-fuel/341627-how-check-head-warp.html

 

[2slow4now]

My straight edge came from home depot in the tile department. A nice piece of polished marble door threshold that was a left over from a remodel. When you lay it on something you can't push it around with the feeler gage.

 

[Dstratt01]

Thanks a ton for all the help. Wish I would have known not to use the donut before but thats what I get for not reading... oh well.