1G Turbo J pipe gasket material

[AWD-Tony]

Would an aluminum gasket work between turbo and j pipe? Hate the paper gasket for clean reasons.
Thanks

 

[brian9397gsx]

I wouldn't use it paper would be best. As the whole reason for a gasket is to crush and fill the voids in uneven surfaces. If the surfaces were perfectly flat and clean no gasket would be necessary. Since your trying to crush and fill the voids in aluminum with aluminum it doesn't work well. Now I know there's going to be a lot of people who disagree with me like always and yes it can work but I don't personally li ke it. They always seem to leak without something else like rtv applied which should be unnecessary for a proper gasket.
I recently built a guys talon for him and he supplied me with a mls j pipe gasket that probably would have been fine if not for the pos j pipe with weld bead in the way of the bolt head which ruined the clamping force of the bolt. I made one out of a roll of gasket paper and had no issues after that and using a carbide bit to smooth out what I could of the weld.

 

[AWD-Tony]

Thanks. Wasn’t sure if there’s a better alternative to paper. I’ll have to pick up a roll.

 

[Vegas Smith]

I had a leak on my old 18g at the j-pipe and I used a file to get both surfaces as flat as possible. Strangely, both the turbo and j-pipe weren't flat. Anyways, I put grey rtv and a paper gasket there and never looked back.

 

[AWD-Tony]

Thanks VSmith. That’s what I did before and it never leaked either. Just took it off to install front mount inserts. I also filed the mating surfaces and now just need a gasket.

 

[Spyder FX]

Get a Sheet of viton rubber off Amazon. I use them for TB gaskets. Just use an exacto knife to trace the paper gasket and I put a socket in my press to punch out bolt holes.

 

[ist dwa]

The OEM gasket is the best one to use for that. Make sure both the compressor cover and jpipe flange surfaces are flat and that gasket is best because you can reuse it and it has a embossed seal. RTV PITA, Paper bad idea.

 

[AWD-Tony]

Thanks Aaron!! I’ll keep that in mind. Bought felpro gasket sheet today and installed it. Still have a couple of things to finish up and then do blt and wet compression test tomorrow and then finally fire her up. It’s been over a week since I drove her.