Gaskets between manifold and exhaust?

[covert]

Hi guys,

Ok, I took my Barracuda to a local shop this week to get my rearend put together.  Now, this is a real Mopar shop, with a dozen E/B/A bodies restored or in progress.

Since it was there, I told them to look over my new engine swap.  I figured a thumbs up from someone who knew what they were doing would be good, since I really don't know what I'm doing.   

They said everything looked pretty good, except that I have an exhaust leak between the manifolds and the rest of the exhaust.  They said the mistake I made was that I put gaskets in there -- I believe what they said was "You'll never get them tight enough with gaskets in there".  To me, this sounded weird and bogus -- I know the manifold gasket set I bought included gaskets, and there were gaskets in there when I took the engine out. 

Is this one of those things that you could argue either way?  The shop guys definitely had a strong opinion.

Cheers,
Covert

[nivvy]

That sounds retarded to me... you need gaskets between any metal to metal surface.... You need to retorque down header bolts after like 50 miles of driving!!! Or are you talking about the collector part that the exhaust bolts up to... either way you need a gasket there also.......I would take my car elsewhere if they dont know that!!

Ask them to check out your muffler bearings and piston pull back spring also.....

[dodge freak 2]

Its not retard, many do use no gaskets between the head and the manifolds. But even without them it still might leak if the head or most likely the manifold is warp. You could take the manifold off and get it milled flat--or try RTV silicone with or without the gaskets.

[MEK-Dangerfield]

Crushable gaskets are what I recommend. Mine are aluminum. That way when they are tightened, they can make up for any slight gap. Percy makes them. I got them thru Jegs.



  Mike

[nivvy]

I still say its silly not to use them!!!!!!!!!!! 

[Chryco Psycho]

I agree with the shop , I never use exhuast gaskets between manifolds & the heads they always cause leaks usually I just put a thin layer of Ultra Copper silicone between the manifold & head
 if you are going to use a gasket use a solid copper or alum gasket