So I have been trying to eliminate small exhaust leaks at the headers from the day in installed the kit. I believe these leaks are causing false readings from the O2s and for that reason I have not spent the money from refined tuning yet.

My question is this....I know that I over torqued the header bolts when i did the install. Can this be a reasonable cause for leaks at the manifold? And, knowing that they were over torqued, are the gaskets (they were new when installed less than 1 month ago) ruined? My thought right now is to loosen the bolts, and re-torque in proper sequence and to spec. I am hesitating because if I have already mangled the gaskets what would be the point, I will need to start over anyway.

Lastly, if all hope for these gaskets is not lost, are there any tricks-of-the-trade that I am not thinking of?

-Adam

If you over torqued the bolts there is a chance the nut is stretched and worn, might wanna get some new nuts to over it. Might not be making a perfect seal.

Well the 1 time use gaskets are already crushed. Loosening them and retightening them will do no good. You could have put some hi temp RTV along with the gaskets to begin with but that's hind sight. I think thye only should tq's to 7 ft lbs. When I did headers I just got them good and snug because you can't get a tq wrench in there.

I have reused my exhaust header gaskets - I don't buy the one time use - they are stainless steel, not paper.

Well so did I on my first swap. The front bank leaked bad! That manifold was going to have to be pulled off but the motor had to come back out.

What can I say - I've done a BUNCH of motors/headers with reused gasket and had zero issues.

Stazi > Toodles.

Well, my first try will be to loosen and then re-torque. Your right no way to get a torque wrench in there but I KNOW I over did it at install. If they still leak, new gasket time.

Anyone have experience using gaskets other than OEM at the headers. I came across a product called Remflex (remflex.com), anyone have experience with this?

-Adam