Difficulty of replacing header gasket on driver's side?

[Detlef]

Difficulty of replacing header gasket on driver\'s side?

I need to replace the leaking Belanger header paper gasket on the driver's side. Got the Mopar gasket but am wondering how difficult it actually is to replace. I am not an experienced wrench and looked at it, but it appears one may need either special sockets to get at the lower header bolts and jack up the car or some technique I am not aware of. Any hints on what I should plan for or should I bag it and take it to the dealer?

 

[jk]

Re: Difficulty of replacing header gasket on driver\'s side?

I did the same thing you are describing with my Belangers. You need to get to the lower bolts from underneath. I have a four post lift so it was pretty easy. You could probably do it with a jack and jack-stands but it would definitely be a pain. Might want to get a quote from a mechanic and see if that pain would be less... Any good mechanic should be able to do this - but keep an eye on them anyway.

 

[Joseph Dell]

Re: Difficulty of replacing header gasket on driver\'s side?

I recall having done all of this on both stock and belangers from above. the trick is to have the proper wrenches. Gear wrenches make it even easier (for the ones you can get to) but they should pop right off from above. do yourself a favor, though... if you aren't used to working on the car, take the hood off. you'll be happy you did. 4 bolts and all this space mysteriously appears!

JD

 

[KenH]

Re: Difficulty of replacing header gasket on driver\'s side?

I installed my Belangers on just jack stands and rhino ramps. I think I could get to all the bolts from the top using a combo of wrenches, but it was not possible to get a torque wrench on all of them (at least not for me). I retorqued the fiber gasket about 3 times before the bolts quit loosening up. I now have put on about 15K miles over the last couple of years with the headers without any gasket problems.

 

[Joseph Dell]

Re: Difficulty of replacing header gasket on driver\'s side?

torque wrench? I don't think i could have fit one in if I tried! my torque setting for the header bolts is "as tight as I can get leverage to go". and that seems to work well.

The combination of wrenches is definitely the key. keep them in your back left pocket to be easily accessible...

JD

 

[bloose]

Re: Difficulty of replacing header gasket on driver\'s side?

Joe,

Would you commenting a little more on removing the hood? It sounds like a 2 man job? I'm also wondering about alignment issues when putting it back on.
Thanks

 

[Joseph Dell]

Re: Difficulty of replacing header gasket on driver\'s side?

The hood removal is a 2 man job. Today, it was me and our babysitter helping me. that easy. There isn't an alignment issue b/c there are only 4 bolt holes and you can't screw it up. Just get someone to help you out and you'll be just fine.

Enjoy!

JD

 

[Jack B]

Re: Difficulty of replacing header gasket on driver\'s side?

Joe is right the gearwrench makes it easier, but, be careful. If you use the gearwrench type that must be turned around to reverse direction you can put the wrench in a position (back side of headers) where you cannot remove or turn the wrench, in other words you have to break it to remove it.

 

[Detlef]

Re: Difficulty of replacing header gasket on driver\'s side?

Thanks for all the tips.