Another B&B gasket demise thread

[willsctsv]

Urb, that would be a very audible leak and some loss of power!

[wildwhl]

The gaskets should only fail if there is a warp or mismatch between parts. It is unlikely, though possible, that the header gaskets at the heads would fail.

How do you know? Listen...it is usually very obvious from under the hood. Tick, tick, tick, tick....kind of noise.

[urbanski]

ok guys, thanks.


the flanges where the gaskets failed were not flat...in fact were "bowed" only touching well at the bolts...the middle of the "circle" (right where the gaskets blew out) didn't meet flush, making that the likely failure reason. I used a bead of copper all around and then some like "caulk" on those gapped areas.

Billy...make the darn flanges flat eh? lol

[StealthV]

The flanges were tweaked pre-headers by bolting up to the stock cats.

Checked the flanges on the cat-back today - nice a flat, just like the day they were ground.

[ssmith100]

Heat and a hammer will take care of those bent flanges.

Urb,
Those gaskets at the heads should be fine. You may just want to check the bolts every once in a while.

Shane

[willsctsv]

My bolts stayed tight at the manifold. Would sometimes loosen at the flanges.
I had the same problem with flanges that needed a little tapping with a mini sledge. No heat needed. I tapped the X pipe flanges, and the header flanges.

[JohnnyU]

I have a B&B w/Resonator exhaust on order, and after reading this set of posts am concerned about a couple things. I bought them to get a nicer sound out of the V, but don't want to increase my maintenance any more than the stock pipes would need. I don't crawl around under my car very much any more, and have a couple questions for the experts on these things.

1) I didn't get the headers - just the exhaust / resonator. If I don't take the car to the track, but just rip it on the street on occasion, do I need to worry about the seals blowing out?

2) How would I know if the seals do blow out?

3) Why don't the seals on the stock exhaust blow, are they better made or is there a difference in their construction and/or does the size of the 2.5" vs 3" pipe make the seals more likely to disintegrate?

4) Is this "normal" wear & tear on an upgraded exhaust?

Thanks for your input!

[HDMLNIUM]

JohnnyU,

Well on the stock exhaust manifolds they have multi layer metal gaskets.
After the cats there is a ball socket type seal, and a great seal. The rest of the factory exhaust is all welded together, no place for any leaks..
The B&B is a great exhaust so don't let the gasket thing bother you to much. I am going to be putting back on the exhaust later in the morning, using the copper RTV to help seal everything up. I need to take it back apart as soon as my X-pipe section shows up so maybe I will have some better gaskets by then.

Bill

05 CTS-V--- Light Platinum
3M Clear Bra and Tinted windows, LS6 Emblem, Stealth-V z06 fuel rail covers, Lasstss Billet interior pieces
B&B Headers-high flow cats-and 3" resonator exhaust, Lingenfelter CAI, UUC shifter, BMR kit
Online Photos http://photobucket.com/albums/v466/HDMLNIUM/

[urbanski]

Originally Posted by JohnnyU

I have a B&B w/Resonator exhaust on order, and after reading this set of posts am concerned about a couple things.

i think the improvement in sound is worth the added wrenching. I used to be scared working on the thing, but yesterday I had the whole exhaust off!! It was fun.
Tell the shop that installs it to use the supplied gaskets and supplement the seals with Copper RTV gasket. Then make sure as part of their installation warranty they'll check for leaks in a few weeks. No hassles on your part.

[urbanski]

Originally Posted by HDMLNIUM

X-pipe section shows up so maybe I will have some better gaskets by then.]

which ones you getting?

[wildwhl]

I never had any leaks with the B&B bolted up to the stock cats - with two exceptions.

1) The rear sections - where the resonator bolts to the muffler sections - I'd recommend using copper rtv there, just to be safe.

2) Once I did not get the front section on the passenger side tight. Sounded like hell, and my wife made sure to mention it multiple times

The issue I'm having, I believe, is the fact that since the B&B was on with the factory cats, and off, and on, and off, etc (about a dozen times) the process of torquing down those flanges has tweaked them.

The flanges on the headers are of course darn near perfectly flat. If I wasn't so lazy, I would pull the front pipes out, take a quick grind on them and file them flat again. Problem solved.

I'm lazy, so I'll use copper rtv for now until I can make or find something better, or, until I spring for the X-pipe.

Worry not, you shouldn't have any leaks there on that B&B or additional maintenance.

[urbanski]

wild, you getting me some gaskets??


I called and talked to Dennis...he said just use copper RTV and no gasket.
This seem OK to you guys?

I forgot to tell him the resonator clamps stripped

I invited him/Billy to check the threads here, since I'm not the only victim.

[lasstss]

Originally Posted by urbanski

wild, you getting me some gaskets??


I called and talked to Dennis...he said just use copper RTV and no gasket.
This seem OK to you guys?

I forgot to tell him the resonator clamps stripped

I invited him/Billy to check the threads here, since I'm not the only victim.

That rating of 700F is for (intermittant use). Normal on silicone is 500F.

I still recommend the thick screened graphite. FWIW..

[StealthV]

Originally Posted by urbanski

wild, you getting me some gaskets??


I called and talked to Dennis...he said just use copper RTV and no gasket.
This seem OK to you guys?

I forgot to tell him the resonator clamps stripped

I invited him/Billy to check the threads here, since I'm not the only victim.

No gaskets and just ultra-copper SillyCone on my four joints. No blow outs yet. Urby, a new set of clamps shipped with your baby mufflers - I think someone at your shop has them in their toolbox or else Shane has them....

[urbanski]

Originally Posted by StealthV

No gaskets and just ultra-copper SillyCone on my four joints. No blow outs yet. Urby, a new set of clamps shipped with your baby mufflers - I think someone at your shop has them in their toolbox or else Shane has them....

shane has em still at least you're running pure copper, i'm happy with that.

lasstss, the gaskets that died had an internal wire mesh...wonder if the mcmaster stuff is the same, meaning it would die too.

wild, if you buy some mcmaster gasket material and laser cut it, count me in