i spent 6+hrs today trying to get my downpipes off today...i replaced all of the standard hardware with ARP last time around, those suckers are a PITA to get off!!!
anyway, i made gaskets out of 16 guage copper (close to 2-3mmthick--pretty thick!)...just wondering if anybody has any feedback on this subject?...my other gaskets were also fabricated (i guess the originals got trashed/decided to make new ones, when my motor was rebuilt)...the last gaskets were much much thinner copper, and they deformed and i had a exhaust leak bilaterally...i assume that a thicker copper will do the job, as copper has a melting point of 1940degrees F ...
any feedback?

 

I dont know much about this stuff but would like to see some of what members thoughts are. Im in the process of doing my APS TT and the motor is out. Going through the directions it calls for the copper stuff in a tube. Why doesnt APS make gaskets?

 

I would not go too thick...it might throw the piping alignment off and cause other leaks.

 

i think the thickness is just right, hopefully not too thick, as i want the mating of the wastegate and the downpipe to still be tight

 

You work on your car more than anyone I know

 

i spent 2 hrs last night pullingm y aem out and wiring up my new innovate xd-1 and lc-1...then wanted to fix the minor exhaust leak and get things ready for the 3" exhaust!
believe me, i would like to be able to relax for awhile, but somehow i FIND things to do ..i enjoy it!..(i hate pulling the turbos or anything involving the turbos)

 

AK Miller used to say "Gaskets are made to blow!" He surface ground the manifold and the turbo flanges, then bolted them together, without a gasket.

 

you do not need gaskets for that stuff, just like the APS kit doesnt use gaskets. However, with the greddy kit, you will stress the downpipes if you dont have gaskets, because they are made assuming the thickness of the gaskets.

copper sucks for gaskets like that if you ask me. copper needs frequent retorqueing in high stress applications from my experienced. its too soft and compresses I think. why not sure the steel "fire ring" ones?

 

well, too late now, just torqued everything together earlier today, hopefully these ones will hold up ..they are pretty thick...
wish me luck...
TODD

 

Good luck. Oh and I talked to Brody(?) today. Thanks.

 

should be fabricating my exhaust tomorrow, i figure, Brody could order your parts, then throw my car up on the lift and fabricate the setup and ensure that it fits by having my car there as an aid...
i'll post pics of my exhaust once it is done

 

When two surfaces are precision machined, as with the APS turbo manfiolds and housings, a gasket is not needed.