Tom Dummer
Sr. Member
On Bronco Huts' headers, the Sanderson directions clearly state that they do not require manifold gaskets. Really? Is anyone else running just the 1/8" bead of gasket sealer and no gasket?
Use dead soft aluminum gaskets. I used these and have had zero issues.
http://www.taylorvertex.com/product-search/?id=300763
I ordered them online through the site along with collector gaskets. I purchased the high heat silicone as recommended and installed without a gasket according to the instructions. I then built my entire exhaust starting at the collectors working back. When I started it up it had a exhaust leak out the bottom of the #1 port. I thought it was a bad weld. That's when i started making phone calls. They said no you have a port leak and need gaskets. We had some discussions about if they need gaskets on the P heads why they aren't included with the headers. They said if I had called in the order they would have told me that. %) I removed the headers and could see from the silicone staining where the bottom of the port only overlapped the header flange by only 1/8". I only had 1 port leak on startup but would've had more with time. I notice that the ad on their site now 'strongly recommends' buying the gaskets separately. https://broncohut.com/collections/engine/products/bronco-headersWell there ya go. I now know of a member that didn't have luck doing it that way!
So what are some more details Wyflyer? All ports leaked? Just one or a few? Blew out immediately or took a little time?
Too bad the manufacturer is still calling for one thing if Bronco Hut is aware of it not working and recommending gaskets.
Seems like even if they were not going to include gaskets (which they do it sounds like), the Hut should start taking the factory instructions out so as not to confuzzle things.
Or did yours get drop-shipped from the manufacturer? The Hut woudn't have as much control over things if that was the case.
Sorry to hear you had an issue with yours. You been running the gaskets all this time without trouble then?
Paul
Odd, mine came with two sets of gaskets.
One from Sanderson and a different "better" one from Bronco Hut...
I did not have to notch the frame, that's an optical illusion where I masked off the VIN to paint the frame. I agree that adding gaskets 'shouldn't' add enough thickness to make a difference on the crossover pipe, but on mine it did. Plus i'm anal and fussy.. You can see from the pics my 2 into 1 collector happens very quickly behind the passenger header, so the crossover assembly was very stiff stainless with zero flex or stretch in the pipe. Add 1/8" gasket thickness on each side, adds up to 1/4" which was enough to cause the passenger collector to no longer bolt up flat against the collector flange. Plus the driver side collector comes up from the bottom, the passenger side more from behind.. if that makes sense.. Spreading the headers apart by 1/8" gasket width on each side caused a total of 1/4" misalignment plus the faces were no longer parallel. I did not want to force it and tighten it up under tension then fight gaskets leaks for the rest of my life....Though I'm having a hard time seeing how the thickness of a gasket required that. I'm sure you're right of course (after all, you're right there doing it), but a fraction of an inch shift seems small enough to get away with. Was it down lower where they meet at the Y then? Or did you have to mess with things up near the frame as well?
I see you notched the frame it looks like? Is that to get the exhaust down low quicker? Transmission clearance issues, or just personal preference?
Very nice setup. Just trying to sneak more details out of you!
And last question (for now) is in what way were the ports skewed to the heads? Larger than the head port, or smaller? I'm guessing larger, as those P-head exhaust ports look smaller than the older ones. I've never measured (and have a set on the garage floor myself) but they do initially look kind of small. Guess Ford got the good breathing in a different way than just sheer size.
Thanks. Good luck in the second round.
Paul
On Bronco Huts' headers, the Sanderson directions clearly state that they do not require manifold gaskets. Really? Is anyone else running just the 1/8" bead of gasket sealer and no gasket?
Did we answer your question?
u got questions we got answers lol. it is disappointing that this is not a clear answer, when I bought mine, nothing was mentioned about gaskets. just seems like a recipe for bad customer experience