Brett H. - 89GTA

I bought some SLP 1 3/4" headers a couple of years ago...just now getting around to installing them. I noticed that the flanges for the center two tubes are off by about 1/16" compared to the flanges for the end tubes. On one of the headers the center flange is also at a slight angle (top to bottom) compared to the end flanges.

Will this misalignment be a problem? I was hoping that after torquing the center flange into place that the bolts would pull the flange flat against the head. The gaskets that came with the install kit are not going to be thick enough to take up all of the gap.

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

You should be able to just bolt them up and have thme go into place. I have read about other people having similar problems with SLP's. My flowtechs did the same thing but didn't bend as easy because the flange was connected to every primary.

By the way, where in SW ohio are you?

Brett H. - 89GTA

I'm in Englewood.

How much warpage did your Flowtechs have? Did you have trouble getting them to seal up?

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

I know where that is and you are just north of here. I used the percy's dead soft aluminum gaskets that help fill the void. No leaks as of yet. Yours should still bolt up since the flanges are separate from each other. If you call the SLP tech line they will probably tell you the same thing. Lay them flat on something and see how far off they are? Anything within a half inch shouldn't cause any problems and they should bend easily into place.

Forgot to mention:

Check out www.daytonfbody.com

Wishmaster's87IROC

iTrader: (4)

mine were also the same way....I think all the SLP's are just about the same with that problem since there isnt a flange going all the way across.....I also used the Percy gaskets and they fill what ever gap there was. makes it look like a whole flange but Im sure you can just cut the size you want and go with that.

Brett H. - 89GTA

1/2"???? If they were that far off I'd be chewing out SLP on the phone!

I had hoped with good gaskets they would draw up and seal...especially since the SLPs have separate flanges. I also considered doubling up on the gasket for the center tubes.

The flanges are off by about 1/16"...maybe a bit more on one side. Where did you get your Percy gaskets? How thick are they? How are their sealing characteristics compared to copper?

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

I wanted to send them back but certain cercumstances prevented me from doing so. Anyways, They are about 3/8" think and are mutil layered. I got mine from jegs for about 35 bucks or so. They are not cheap but will never blow out, last a long time, conform to gaps and what not, and are re-usuable. At 1/16 off you will be fine and that tube should pull forward when you put them on. I would not sweat it at all.

Wishmaster's87IROC

iTrader: (4)

mine were not 1/2........

Heres the Percy's,,you can get them at AZ.....I tink they costed $37.00 the same as Jegs or Summit. I dont know anything about copper but SLP says not to use copper with their headers.

Wishmaster's87IROC

iTrader: (4)

heres another..the thickness should work for you.

Brett H. - 89GTA

Thanks for the help, guys...I'll order a set of them when I order a new fan switch to replace the one that broke when I pulled off the connector. It's always something...

ShiftyCapone

iTrader: (7)

I broke the same thing so don't feel bad.

firbird

why would they say not to use copper on the slp's?? why would alum be ok and not copper?

Wishmaster's87IROC

iTrader: (4)

I have no idea, thats what they told me when I called them. I guess something about the stainless and copper? I dont know?

Marc 85Z28

iTrader: (3)

Copper is fine. I use the SCE copper on mine and have had no problems with them.

icecold

i also used copper sce gaskets and could not get them to stop leaking.finally changed to the graphites slp sent with.
are the dead soft aluminums really 3/8 thick?was thinking of using them bit that would require more dimple to miss the stearing shaft and i cannot do that i dident like doing it the first time.
pete

Brett H. - 89GTA

In the picture that Wishmaster posted, the uncompressed gasket thickness looks to be a little less than the flange thickness of the header. On my SLPs, the flange thickness is 3/8". I would imagine that the compressed thickness will be quite a bit less than that. I'm willing to deal with a few header clearance issues if it means they don't leak. Once a header clearance issue is resolved it usually stays that way; header leaks seem to keep coming back like a bad penny.