I've really blown a gasket this time

[billzilla]

Well, my header to pipe gasket, anyway.

I apparently lost a bolt out of the flange where my long TCI headers run into the pipe on the passenger side (outward most bolt) and now my car sounds like a fan with a piece of tape stuck to one blade.

Offhand, does anyone have an idea as to gasket size, brand and bolt/nut size without me undoing the other bolt (it's in there pretty good)? Much appreciated.

[BuckNeccid]

Aren't you going to have to undo the other bolt anyway to replace the gasket? I can't visualize what you're talking about, every header to collector set up I've ever seen has at least 3 and some 4 bolts connecting them.

If it is the header to collector gasket that blew, one trick I found years ago to prevent that, use a donut gasket of the correct size to fit into the assembly, and coat it with some of the "goop" they sell to smear on holes in your exhaust. It actually works well, and gives that stuff a purpose for existing other than to take your money lol.

[billzilla]

I guess I will have to undo the other bolt anyway. Somehow I hadn't thought that far ahead.

Which goop are we talking about, here? I only saw two holes but I think there's a third on top of the flange... I looked up TTI headers and saw the configuration.

[BuckNeccid]

The goop is generally sold in like Advance/Auto Zone under some sort of name that makes you think it's a steel impregnated permanent muffler repair you can just smear on like a paste. I wouldn't use it to fill holes like they recommend, but I've used it to coat the contact points of the donut gaskets, just to fill any imperfections, and it seems to work pretty well. Just make sure that when you put the gasket in and start tightening it down, you pull the bolts tight in an even manner, taking turns tightening each bolt till they are all tight.