Installing Felpro 1415's (header gaskets)

[barronj]

Man, I've been turning wrenches for a long time on Mustang 5.0's, and I've NEVER had an epiphany like I did the other day.

I've been doing it wrong for ever!

On almost all header gaskets (at the head), you try & wrangle the header & gasket together while fumbling with a tiny little bolt in a hole that seemingly does not exist or won't thread, only to cry out or cramp up.

Finally, it occured to me! With the Fel Pro 1415, you can bolt the header up to the head WITHOUT THE GASKET, using only the two outside bolts. Once you have those started, you can slip the gasket in, and continue on your merry way.

How about if there were instructions on the back that mentioned this?

If there were a sub section of the tech articles titled "tech articles for dummies", I would submit this, and settle for a wife-beater, instead of a fully intact short-sleeved CB tee shirt.

 

[Bronco Brian]

My ? is why are you having to change the gasket so soon they should not be that old from when you 1st installed them. How are the headers working out?
Brian

 

[broncnaz]

Shoot I though just about all exhuast gaskets were like that.
Maybe you can make your own "CB dummy" wife beater shirt.

 

[Explorer]

Now you know the meaning of a "Blonde Moment".

 

[barronj]

My ? is why are you having to change the gasket so soon they should not be that old from when you 1st installed them. How are the headers working out?
Brian

That's a 2-part answer.

I didn't use Felpros to begin with. I probably used stock replacements, and they weren't as big as the exhaust ports on the AFR's. They essentially got eaten up from the inside out. Second, the header bolts I was using had 7/16 heads, and there were a few I just couldn't get enough wrench bite on to get them totally snug. The bolt head againts the header primary was too tight to get the box end around, so...

I replaced all the bolts w/ 3/8 head header bolts as well.

Headers work well! There's still some of your red mud in the tightest crevices. I shined them up with scotch-brite before I installed them.

I'm going to sell them though, along with my exhaust & go to BC's full exhaust, for the larger primaries & the 2-1 design. I tend to change things up until I'm content, a going-through-the-motions issue. The first motor I put in this bronco, I drove it around the block & decided I needed to go bigger. It came right back out.

 

[Green76]

I just installed a new set of Hedman Full length ceramic headers from Summit with the Fel-Pro Gaskets and Percy Stainless locking bolts. I figured out the trick you mentioned after installing one side. It allowed me to use the Permatex Copper gasket sealant on both sides of the gasket without making a huge mess. The Hedman headers are a great fit, have a 3/8 inch flange and a ball/flange connection instead of the old style collector and gasket. With Flowmaster 50's and 2 1/4 inch exhaust all the way back it's quiet until you step on it. Turned out great!

 

[barronj]

With Flowmaster 50's and 2 1/4 inch exhaust all the way back it's quiet until you step on it. Turned out great!

I bet it does sound great.