Header gasket maybe?

[musclenutz]

I drove my 94 down to the store today and noticed a whistling sound and loss of power.It was surging and when the whistling would stop for a couple seconds the power seemed to return to engine. When i heard the whistling sound it seemed to lose power . I will be replacing header gaskets wednesday because last time i took it to the Dodge dealership for a tune up,the mechanic said their were a couple loose header bolts and one missing.He said he bet i had a bad gasket now because of it. It has been running bad since that day. I am starting to wonder now if it could just be a vaccuum leak somewhere. I guess a header gasket could whistle too and cause loss of power though. Does anyone have a guess as to what it is causing the whistle and power loss?
Thanks,David

 

[plumcrazy]

im not thinking the leaky header gaskets whistling

 

[99 R/T 10]

Vaccum leak?

 

[CWhiteRun]

Reverse supercharger?

 

[musclenutz]

I guess i will wait and let the mechanic down at the dealership do the header gaskets first and if that isn't it,i will either get him to check vacuum leaks or i will myself. When he did plugs he said he had to replace one missing header bolt and retorque some others. Should have had him replace gaskets then i guess. But this whistling may be something else.Will post what happens when i find the problem

 

[rpm9000]

Most likely a vaccum leak in my opinion.

 

[Martin]

I agree on the vaccuum leak. Best thing to do is go around and try to pinpoint where it is coming from. Vaccuum leaks are high-frequency, so they're pretty easy to pinpoint. Chances are it's a hose with a crack in it someplace.

 

[99 R/T 10]

I agree on the vaccuum leak. Best thing to do is go around and try to pinpoint where it is coming from. Vaccuum leaks are high-frequency, so they're pretty easy to pinpoint. Chances are it's a hose with a crack in it someplace.

One old trick to find a vacuum leak is to spray carb cleaner around the suspect area. If the engine sound changes, you have pinpointed the leak.

 

[speedracervr4]

You would have black soot around the header area that was leaking as well..probably a vacuum leak

 

[RTTTTed]

Header leaks do NOT whistle, they are EXHAUST leaks (no muffler sounding) and when it's a header leak that 1 cylinder explodes once every second time the engine turns over. Terrible loud sound. If you still have STOCK EXHAUST gasket it's steel and probably not a problem as they are extremely difficult to burn through. Tighten it and forget it.

If someone changed to an asbestos/paper type gasket it would be toast as they break and burn away easily.

Do you have headers or Stock tubing manifolds? Quality headers with thick flanges are as reliable as stock manifolds nowadays.

You should check that your hoses are still attached. There are quite a few intake hoses that could be leaking.

Carb cleaner spray was suggested to spray on the engine to find the leak. That idea works. I used Ether, but since it's flammable and explosive I don't recommend it. Even a spray bottle of water or water with dish soap would also cause the engine rpm to change when the water got sucked into the intake system - and it's non explosive.

Ted

 

[jdeft1]

+ 1 (or is it 2) on spraying around the intake with some carb cleaner and inspecting the vacuum hoses. The brake booster hose and possibly the booster will def. be loud enough to hear and cause a loss of power. Any loss in brake "feel" when it's whistling? ...

As for exhaust manifold/header bolts... pretty easy job to do in your garage. If it has the heat shields, I'd suggest removing the valve covers first before trying to remove the shields (they can easily chip/scratch the valve cover paint).

my .02

 

[musclenutz]

Thanks everyone for suggestions. I just took her to the shop to have new oem header gaskets (got them from Tator),,installed as well as the 3:55's. Also AB plug wires,new pilot2's on rear and new B&M short throw shifter...i also asked him to check for vacuum leaks etc... while doing the work. Will post what i find out when i get it back from shop/

 

[jdeft1]

You're gonna love that B&M shifter. It made a world of difference on my '94 some years back...

 

[Phun70]

I'd suggest you have a smoke test performed to determine the presence and location of the vacuum leak if indeed you have one.

 

[musclenutz]

Thanks,i am on pins and needles waiting for the shop to call and tell me everything is done. I read so many posts about the B&M shifter both good and bad. I am hoping it will feel better just doing everyday cruising . I have to admit,i have been having some problems shifting with the stock shifter,especially when trying to speed shift. It just seemed like driving a super powerful tractor.LOL...but hopefully this switch will work for me. I am hoping i will hear from the shop today saying it is ready and then i can find out for myself if it was the right thing to do.

 

[musclenutz]

Just got my car back from the shop and am happy to say it runs so much better. Thanks for everyone who replied to my post and gave me good advice. The new 3:55's are great and the new b&m short throw shifter makes it much more fun to drive. The clacking sound has stopped also,thanks to new header gaskets. I am feeling good right now about the changes and fixes. Thanks again guys!

 

[musclenutz]

You are right about loving the B&M shifter. It is much more fun to drive and regardless of what i had read about the short throw shifter being harder to shift..i haven't seen it. It shifts real smooth and goes where i want it to go. Like a whole new car!