Blew my right header gasket after having the left gasket replaced with a new aluminum piece just a few weeks back, anyone having problems with the default kooks carbon gaskets? Happened under WOT on an open road(I rarely go WOT)

Is your tech (or you) re-torquing them after a few days of driving? If not, that could be the problem.

Nope The dealership did the work they didnt say anything about it

You only torque them down to about 18 fl/lbs (I think) so it's pretty important to torque it after you heat cycle it a couple of times. I would make sure you do the one that you just replaced and of course the new one your about to install.

Good call Tony.

awesome thanks ill make sure he does it right this time

the gaskets suck! Mine blew as well as others. Just use stock ones.

Have you tried the gaskets they recommended in the Faq?

They are working out great for me. - no leaks and they are "supposed" to be reusable. Never thought the "fuzzy" gaskets were a good idea.

I am using the carbon fiber one from PERCY'S.

I did use the aluminum version that they have, but I think I reused it to many times (?) and developed a leak.

There is one "fuzzy" gasket vote.

I know someone running them on a Pro charged Mustang with no problems, guess 2 votes. Does a Mustang count?

I'm running the "fuzzies" included with the headers as well. It ticks like crazy, but I think that's just good old LSx valvetrain noise amplified by the headers.

I don't notice the ticking on mine. I did at first but I had a few leaks. Took me some time to track them all down but now the exhaust sounds quite nice.

I hear people talking of putting in a bigger sub and better stereo's but if you have a nice set of headers, nice exhaust, goes without saying but a awesome engine (can't beat the LS platform) it's like music I can never get sick of.

Most of the time I listen to the stereo when the wife is in the car.

Sorry for going off topic but I miss the V, need to drive the truck home tonight. :helpless:

Most of the time I listen to the stereo when the wife is in the car.

Mine still hasn't been in mine....;) Still wonders why it gets louder and darker...and all those damn GM recalls and TSB's keep her out at nights instead of sleeping in her 3/4 car garage. She's on the 2 space side...:yup:

it's like music I can never get sick of.


Agreed. I haven't used my radio / CD player since I've had the B&B installed.

Kooks gaskets and about 18k later, no leaks.

(You know, I never did retorque the bolts, either. :hide:)

Never had mine retorqued. Guess I need to do this.

The shop that installed my Kooks said that the Percy's gasket that shipped with the headers would not hold up, so they used some MLS (multi-layered steel) gaskets and they seem to be holding up fine. They told me to retorque the header bolts after 5000 miles. And I haven't tracked the car yet with the headers, so the underhood heat has not been nearly as high as it could be.

Gasket opinions seem to be plentiful (and different).

My Techs both agreed that the Carbon/Steel gasket included with the Kooks headers (which is made by Percy's) was a superior gasket to the "Dead Soft Aluminum" ones in the FAQ. I had already purchased the latter, and they made this determination after looking at both in person.

Go figure.

Chef and Jon,

Glad to see there are others that enjoy the car as much as I do! :thumbsup:

Seems like a couple of the gaskets are made by Percy and I would have to say they make a fine product. I am a firm believer that if installed properly, torqued properly and at least twice, and a flat header flange then you cannot go wrong with either gasket. I still think the ceramic gasket (fuzzy one) Really seemed a bit strange but they do seem to work. Now whether they work better or not I cannot say.

Looking forward to getting my ECM back tomorrow.. You can bet it will go in and need to be tested! :bouncy:

The consensus on Corvette Forum seems to be the GM gaskets. I have had Kooks headers on my C5 for 3 1/2 years and they have been off the car twice. Once for the clutch install...we reused the GM gaskets I used when the headers were originally installed. In June, the heads/cam LS1 was replaced with a 403 LS2. We used new GM gaskets and reused my Kooks headers. I've never had any problems with exhaust leaks.

Just my $.02