Gasket Material - Exhaust Port

[veggie]

Hi All,

When I removed the exhaust flange from the head of my Changfa, the gasket came off in two pieces   
It's the type where a metal gasket is sandwiched between two paper (or asbestose) gaskets to make one piece.
There is no way I will be able to find a local replacement.
Part of the paper stuck to the flange and the rest (including the metal inner) stayed on the head.

Do I need a metal core gasket to replace it ? or is there a good non-metallic gasket that can be used for exhaust connections ?

thanks
veggie

[mobile_bob]

you do need the metal core gskt in my opinion
you might take a trace of the flange and head down to the local autoparts store

my bet is a big block chevy, or some other common exhaust gskt could be pressed into service.

that is what i intend to do when the time comes on my 195's

bob g

[Jens]

I took the gasket to a muffler shop and found myself something that was close enough (for Thumper). They had litterally hundreds of gaskets hanging on the wall for every conceivable engine.

Don't use Canadian Tire gaskets as they are thinner and of poorer quality.

I also needed a BIG gasket for the endcap of my exhaust gas heat exchanger. I trolled engine rebuilders for engine head sheet gasket and I lucked out with some excellent metal reinforced stuff that probably came in as a sample and they had no use for it. It has not had any desire to come apart in multiple removal and re-installations. The metal is corrugated and pressed into the gasket material. The only thing with exhaust gaskets is that they are usually rolled over on the inside so that only metal is presented to the hot gases. This may be necessary in the higher pressure area right at the header (and all the gaskets at the muffler shop had that feature) but as I said, I had no problems with the heat exchanger gasket.

[Ronmar]

Or just plain copper sheet can be fabbed into an exhaust gasket...

[quinnf]

Don't tell anyone I told you this, but you can take your old gasket and glue it back together with RTV silicone glue and unless you are actually missing pieces, it will work fine.  Used silicone glue to seal up exhaust leaks on Japanese motorcycles in my wasted youth and was amazed at how durable that stuff is at high temperatures.  I've even gone so far as to reinforce the gasket with aluminum window screen slathered with silicone glue and it worked and lasted until the next rebuild.

But don't let on where you heard it from.  It's just short of a Red Green fix.

BTW, have you checked with www.gasketstogo.com?  They seem to have, or be able to make, just about anything.  And John, I think his name is, is really responsive to inquiries. 

Quinn

[BruceM]

 I've had durable results with using the high temp silicone (the copper filled stuff)  instead of a gasket. I let it cure before running.

[veggie]

Thanks for all the tips.
I was able to locate "metal backed" exhaust gasket material from NAPA.
The part number (Canadian NAPA) is JV314SG
1/16" thick material
$24 for a 12" wide by 30" long sheet.
Should be able to make approx. 75 exhaust gaskets from it   

cheers,
veggie

[vdubnut62]

I have a sheet of that stuff, but I can't figure an efficient way of cutting and trimming it. The stuff I have is tougher  than a 2 dollar steak!
Maybe clamp it between 2 sheets of thin plywood and jigsaw it with a metal cutting blade?
Ron.

[Henry W]

Tin Snips for the rough cuts and a Dremel with Clog-Free Carbide Burs that can be purchased from McMaster-Carr. Mark the gasket material than work on the inside first. Once inside is finished than cut and finish the outside.

Henry

[Henry W]

BTW, have you checked with www.gasketstogo.com?  They seem to have, or be able to make, just about anything.  And John, I think his name is, is really responsive to inquiries.  

Quinn

Shipping cost was very reasonable and I recieved the gaskets very fast fast for the S-195.

If you are not pressured on time and don't need a unit up the same day www.gasketstogo.com is a good source.

Henry