Best long lasting exhaust manifold gaskets (Page 1/3)
MaxxPower1968 OCT 24, 01:48 PM
Hi Everyone,
I have a big exhaust leak somewhere. Best I can tell, it's at the front manifold behind the ac compressor. I'm just wondering if anyone has had long lasting success with a certain brand or type of exhaust manifold gasket. Mahle and Fel-pro are looking like pretty good to me. I already sprayed PB blaster everywhere and I plan on starting this job today so I want to order studs and gaskets right away. It does seem like someone has been in there before because the dipstick isn't attached and I don't see a heat shield I've read about in other threads. I bought this car in June and theres no way it'll pass smog in CA with this leak. Also, does anyone use copper spray on their gaskets? I use it on my quads when ever I rebuild the top ends but I haven't read of anyone using it on the fieros. I've also used it on my old camaro's engine as well. I like it and it gives me piece of mind. How do you think it will hold up on the exhaust gaskets?

'86 SE with a V6 and 131,XXX miles on it.
IMSA GT OCT 24, 02:39 PM
Just make sure your leak is caused by a gasket issue and not a cracked manifold. The factory manifolds are notorious for cracking.
theogre OCT 24, 02:54 PM
Is likely Not a gasket problem but warps flange(s) or crack manifold.
If has warp flanges then any new gasket won't last long.

Don't use any sealer on exhaust gaskets of any type.
Heats up and burns then do nothing to seal. Worse, many sealers are Poison to O2 sensor and cat.

Note that Many other gaskets are installed Dry w/o Sealer too. Some like engine oil pan sets need sealer only where has seems.
Some time you can use Pematex High Tack sealer/"glue" to hold a gasket in place... Examples:
Duke side cover over valve lifters. You only "glue" the gasket to the cover so gasket stays put while installing the nuts. (4 rubber parts on the studs don't need anything.)
Most Valve Covers do not use gaskets w/ sealers. But Some covers and other parts are made to work w/o a gasket and mods to use RTV silicone instead.

most OE types are same way... Sealers cause more problems w/ gaskets to fix a problem like Felpro product labeled as PermaDry, PermaTorque and others.

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Dr. Ian Malcolm: Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should.
(Jurassic Park)

The Ogre's Fiero Cave

Patrick OCT 24, 04:35 PM

quote
Originally posted by theogre:

Is likely Not a gasket problem but warps flange(s) or crack manifold.



...and/or loose and/or broken/missing exhaust manifold bolts.
Notorio OCT 25, 04:24 PM
When you replace your gaskets some people have had success with these VW type. Each port gets its own gasket: Click Here

When you have your manifold off, check for alignment of the three flanges with a straight edge. Patrick references a belt-sander method that a friend of his used to realign the flanges at home and stop the leaking. I searched but couldn't find the actual belt-sander posting itself: Click Here
pmbrunelle OCT 25, 07:15 PM

quote
Originally posted by Notorio:
When you replace your gaskets some people have had success with these VW type. Each port gets its own gasket: Click Here



There is some cardboard-sandwich rubbish (IAP brand, purchased on Rockauto) that should be avoided:
https://www.fiero.nl/forum/...ML/142133-3.html#p90

There are also solid copper gaskets available for VWs (should be good).

Be careful with what you buy!
MaxxPower1968 OCT 26, 11:47 AM
Thanks for all the input guys. I already ordered the stud kit and fel-pro gaskets from TFS and a Mahle gasket from ebay so I can compare them and see which one might be better. If anyone is interested in the differences, I can post the findings.

QUOTE]Originally posted by Notorio:

When you replace your gaskets some people have had success with these VW type. Each port gets its own gasket: Click Here
(Sorry, still trying to figure out this quoting thing)

Thanks! I'm going to look into these and compare them to the other two. I was leaning toward the EMPI's but I'm still trying to find copper ones like pmbrunelle mentioned.

I made a little progress the last couple of days. The Y pipe is removed and I decided to removed the vent tubes and heat shields from the trunk side as well. They looked like they could get in the way. The AC compressor was a real pain. I had to hammer a ratchet with a pickle fork and mallet to break the middle bolts loose while being careful not to slip and break the rear glass. I got two broken bolts on the firewall side Y pipe flange but the Y flange to the cat had to be removed with an impact gun since the damn previous mechanic decided to use a nut and bolt on one side of it. I spun my ratchet on there for a what seemed like 5 minutes until I reliazed I shoud check to see why it's spinning. The nut was frozen so I was willing to snap it with the impact wrench. To my surprise, it came out intact.





Does anyone know if the upper AC bracket needs to come off? I see 3 bolts on the face of the engine. Are there any hidden out of sight?
A_Lonely_Potato OCT 26, 04:05 PM
I wound up taking off my A/C bracket, but i do not remember if it was in the way for anything. There are only those 3 bolts.
Spoon OCT 27, 10:59 AM
Congratulations , consider this project as the initiation to being a Fiero owner. I'm 1 of many and I was fortunate to do the job in a garage at home so I could nibble at it at my leisure. 1 guarantee is it will always be the manifold behind the rear window glass. This project turned out to be a terrible experience. Broken manifold bolt became a reality. Bought a right angle drill and special short bits to get into the tight spots, with no luck. Pulled the head but first had to remove 2-3 layers of intake manifolds, injectors, and on & on. Even broke off a spark plug and had to drill that out. At that point I figured I may as well go whole-hog and pull the other head. All this pain & suffering over 1 broken manifold bolt!
Ended up buying a drill press and some taps. Replaced the bolts with studs and used VW gaskets.
My 3800sc swap was a much easier task. Something to consider...

Spoon

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"Kilgore Trout once wrote a short story which was a dialogue between two pieces of yeast. They were discussing the possible purposes of life as they ate sugar and suffocated in their own excrement. Because of their limited intelligence, they never came close to guessing that they were making champagne." - Kurt Vonnegut

Patrick OCT 27, 04:38 PM

quote
Originally posted by Spoon:

Congratulations , consider this project as the initiation to being a Fiero owner. I'm 1 of many and I was fortunate to do the job in a garage at home so I could nibble at it at my leisure. 1 guarantee is it will always be the manifold behind the rear window glass. This project turned out to be a terrible experience. Broken manifold bolt became a reality. Bought a right angle drill and special short bits to get into the tight spots...



Other than not having the luxury of a garage, this sounds very much like my adventure several years ago, posted Here. It was by far the worst experience I have ever had in over 50 years of working on my vehicles.