Clicking after LT install

**One_Bad_TA** · 05-26-2009, 04:10 PM

Ok Ive searched and still cant find my problem, Im guessing its my cheap ebay headers but anyways...Im getting a ticking/clicking sound from the driver side from the back of the header(closest to interior). On both driver and pass header the stock bolt in that location would not thread all the way in so I got a shorter bolt with some lock washers and tightened it up. I replaced the stock gasket with a Felpro metal gasket and still no luck. I replaced my plugs, put sleeves on my wires and still cant fix this dam leak. It only come from the driver side as well. Any thoughts on what else I could try or what i should do?

**BlackSS1** · 05-27-2009, 03:19 AM

Originally Posted by One_Bad_TA

Ok Ive searched and still cant find my problem, Im guessing its my cheap ebay headers but anyways...Im getting a ticking/clicking sound from the driver side from the back of the header(closest to interior). On both driver and pass header the stock bolt in that location would not thread all the way in so I got a shorter bolt with some lock washers and tightened it up. I replaced the stock gasket with a Felpro metal gasket and still no luck. I replaced my plugs, put sleeves on my wires and still cant fix this dam leak. It only come from the driver side as well. Any thoughts on what else I could try or what i should do?

Have you tried brand new GM gaskets? That is the best tried and true way to prevent leaks on headers. Aftermarket header gaskets = problems

You could also try to retap the hole, but the rearmost one is hard to work on with the motor in the car. If you can get the recommended torque on the shorter bolt you should be OK.

**JoshieDoom** · 05-27-2009, 03:25 AM

Felpro is stock GM MLS replacement so he is good to go there. Might be that your headers flanges are warped. Hence the bolt going in not as far.

**Stephen Griner** · 05-27-2009, 04:38 AM

Originally Posted by JoshieDoom

Felpro is stock GM MLS replacement so he is good to go there. Might be that your headers flanges are warped. Hence the bolt going in not as far.

That is the more likely problem. I have seen that time and time again with cheaper headers. You have to take them to a machine shop and get them milled untill they are true.

**One_Bad_TA** · 05-27-2009, 06:37 AM

Yea Im thinking its the flanges, but I figured since I got a bolt in and tightened maybe it would solve it, guess not. Could I perhaps double up the gaskets to help tighten the seal?

**02Sweet** · 05-27-2009, 09:08 AM

Originally Posted by One_Bad_TA

Yea Im thinking its the flanges, but I figured since I got a bolt in and tightened maybe it would solve it, guess not. Could I perhaps double up the gaskets to help tighten the seal?

I don't knwo if you can do that or not.

but i have the same headers and I had the ticking sound too. It ended up being two things.

first one is that i am a dumb ass and didn't tighten the last spark plug all the way

The second was on the flange there was a metal burr that I had to knock off after that the flange hugged the block and now im good.

**One_Bad_TA** · 05-27-2009, 08:11 PM

Originally Posted by 02Sweet

I don't knwo if you can do that or not.

but i have the same headers and I had the ticking sound too. It ended up being two things.

first one is that i am a dumb ass and didn't tighten the last spark plug all the way

The second was on the flange there was a metal burr that I had to knock off after that the flange hugged the block and now im good.

Hmmm...was that on the rear of the header like I mentioned? Maybe we have the same ones and Ill have to check that

**02Sweet** · 05-28-2009, 02:48 AM

Originally Posted by One_Bad_TA

Hmmm...was that on the rear of the header like I mentioned? Maybe we have the same ones and Ill have to check that

it was on the rear of the header on the d/s

**cammed goat** · 05-28-2009, 03:37 AM

I agree with ya SS1. I have herd numerous header gasket problems. Every solution involved using/reusing the factory gaskets. Solved the problem.

**02Sweet** · 05-28-2009, 03:52 AM

Originally Posted by cammed goat

I agree with ya SS1. I have herd numerous header gasket problems. Every solution involved using/reusing the factory gaskets. Solved the problem.

that is what i did

**One_Bad_TA** · 06-03-2009, 07:03 PM

Well Im at a loss. I doubled up the gasket and now I cant get the very back bolt in on the driver side. The bolt began to tighten but now it just feels stripped out. I did not see any metal burrs on the flange and the flange itself looked pretty straight...I have no clue what to do now. And I dropped my 10 mm socket and cant find it!

**02Sweet** · 06-04-2009, 11:19 AM

Originally Posted by One_Bad_TA

Well Im at a loss. I doubled up the gasket and now I cant get the very back bolt in on the driver side. The bolt began to tighten but now it just feels stripped out. I did not see any metal burrs on the flange and the flange itself looked pretty straight...I have no clue what to do now. And I dropped my 10 mm socket and cant find it!

Did you try running to the dealership and buy a new bolt for the headers. I had to do that for one of them b/c I am a dumbass and lost one during the install i think it was about 2 bucks

**One_Bad_TA** · 06-04-2009, 11:54 PM

Originally Posted by 02Sweet

Did you try running to the dealership and buy a new bolt for the headers. I had to do that for one of them b/c I am a dumbass and lost one during the install i think it was about 2 bucks

Ive got the header bolt I just dropped my socket lol. But for some reason I cant get that very back bolt in. Well I can turn it a few times with my hand then it will just stop tightening. I dont know what the problem is.