Header leak help

[billschroeder5842]

Any ideas on how to diagnose a leaky exhaust coming off a header on the passenger side?

The noise has been slowly getting louder but today it reached the point---got do something.

I put my ear to it and it seems to be coming from the center section but I cant say for sure. It is pretty quiet at idle and at speed but makes that loud *clap clap* upon acceleration.

The system is about 5 years old and they are Headman headers.

Any suggestions on figuring out if it needs tightening, a new gasket or if one of the seams needs a weld?

Thanks!

[Mopar Nut]

I found my header leak at night where I could see the flame, but that was 35 yrs ago.

[c00nhunterjoe]

Bad leaks lead to soot deposits. Odds are the gasket is leaking. Spend the extra few dollars and buy the nice gaskets that are "re-usable"

[justcruisin]

Percy's 66036 Presuming big block.

[firefighter3931]

Here's a good read Bill, along with some pics and part numbers you might need 

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,93609.25.html



Ron

[billschroeder5842]

*UPDATE*
I shot up the nuts wit WD40 and let it sit over night--I got up early and they all spun off with not too much fuss. I "pulled the header" away from the engine to make sure it is loose...no problem.

Here is the question; when I pull the header away (remember its the passenger side) to get the old gasket out and put the new one in, I can get the front and most of the middle bolts away from the header however the rear is still pretty covered up-it pulls at an angle.

Any idea on how I can "pull" the header away from the engine so I can swap gaskets? I thought of putting a rope around the collector under the car and pulling on it or I could disconnect the end of the header collector from the pipes. I'm sure that would give me enough room but I'm not into extra work and I worry about leaks.

Any ideas?

[billschroeder5842]

*SUCESS* (well it seems that way for the moment)

I opted to loosen the header collective at the pipe as it gave me some extra flexibility.The gasket went on pretty easy (I did have to fight with a stuck old one) and everything went together well.

I started it up and everything was pretty quiet and sounded much much better.

So, $11 for a gasket, $8 for grade 8 nuts and 4 Coors lights (okay I was in and out on the LSU football game) and about 90 minutes. But part of the time was general goofing around.

I feel lucky that it was only a gasket-I did not even remove the sparks plugs!).

[Dino]

Here's a good read Bill, along with some pics and part numbers you might need 

http://www.dodgecharger.com/forum/index.php/topic,93609.25.html



Ron

Aarghh look at that poor guy wrestling with that header in that ugly white c.. hey wait a minute...

[Cooter]

Gotta love siamese ports on the headers....