Better Exhaust Gaskets

[DaveW]

Originally Posted by cewrx7r1

I am using a FC turbo exhaust gasket which was cut in half to reduce flexing between both ports like the FD gaskets are. Cheaper and works fine with my GT35R on my 13B-REW FD engine.

If you are burning exhaust gaskets, you propably have a manifold that is not truely flat.
I had to have both faces of my A-Spec manifold trued because they were not flat. I have seen this same problem on other single turbo manifolds.

Don't blame the messenger!

The current gasket problem I mentioned was with gaskets that I got with a used RB dual-tip CB. These gaskets were used up. However, the flanges ARE quite flat on this unit - I checked them with a flat plate and feeler gauge. I have also seen burned-up laminated steel gaskets on other applications. Most exhaust gaskets, including the laminated steel ones, IMO, have a couple of shortcomings - they compress with heat and loosen, causing gaps and flange rocking motions (particularly bad with 2-bolt flanges), followed by exhaust leaks and burn-out, and they also have very little compliance or tolerance for uneven flanges (as you pointed out). Also, because they compress, they are one of the leading CAUSES of warped flanges. I, personally, have not had much problem with exhaust gaskets burning out, but these (the Remflex) just sounded better in all respects.

I didn't mean to infer that no one should ever use the other gasket types - they obviously work well in many applications - I just wanted to bring what I thought was a good, maybe sometimes better (especially in the case of the VERY hot FD exhaust), alternative to peoples' attention.

As I said, so far so good. YMMV.