A couple of questions regarding my headers

[Blue96GTS]

Hello all, thanks for the help.

I recently removed my headers to send them off for some Swain Coating in hopes of lowering the heat under the hood. The headers came with the car, installed by the PO. A few questions:

Q1: Anyone recognize a possible manufacturer of these homemade-looking headers?? Curiosity more than anything, they don't seem to match any other pics I've seen.

Q2: Common for Viper headers to be individual decoupled runners like this, just collected at the collector??

Q3: According to Dave, I shouldn't be running the stock manifold gasket, I should use the Cometic MLS gaskets forthe Gen 3 Viper. I'm not having great luck finding this part number, and the pictures on various web sites showing me a 4 hole round manifold gasket, claiming it's for a 5 hole D-port are not helping my confidence. I'm looking for an aftermarket Cometic gasket, but perhaps I'm supposed to be looking for an OEM gasket which is MLS in stock form...??? Anyone got a part number for the correct G3 Cometic MLS gasket to use on my G2??

Q4: Seems like my searches for gaskets thus far indicate I prolly should have ordered them about 6 months ago if I'd actually like to drive the car this year. Anyone got a set of Gen3 for Gen2 MLS gaskets that they'd like to part with for a fair price? Having the correct part number may preclude this need...

Q5: As a backup, I've ordered (and received) a set of Remflex graphite gaskets, which at least seem to be the correct shape and number of cylinder holes... Anyone have any luck with these gaskets??

Mike


Pics:

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[GTS Dean]

They look a LOT like SVS stepped headers - EXCEPT they were all made from stainless and 100% purge welded. They made very good power, but were notorious for melting everything near them. Have a close look at each of the bolting flanges for cylinder number ID stamps.

I have TNT individual tube headers - uniform 1.75" diameter. I had them ceramic coated gray and hand fitted pre-made 22x8 shields that work super well on track. If most all of your driving is on the street, you could get away with just the Swain coating and a few pieces of sticky heat shield.

[Cost4133]

while not on a viper, i exclusively use remflex gaskets on my cummins and big block dodge builds. never had an issue with them

[dave6666]

Use the Gen 3 MLS gaskets. All fiber gaskets will eventually get brittle and fail.

[Viper GTS-R]

You can buy the inconel heat shielding here:
https://atpwrap.com/dodge-viper/
Had the header heat shields on my last Viper. They work and are really nice looking!

[Mbccenter]

Gen 3 MLS gaskets will not fit.. Different bolt pattern but later gen 2 part number from Dodge should be MLS.

Maybe B&B headers? they were individual.

[dave6666]

Gen 3 MLS gaskets will not fit.. Different bolt pattern but later gen 2 part number from Dodge should be MLS.

They do fit. I've have Gen 3 gaskets on my Gen 2 for almost a decade. They are superior to the Gen 2 MLS gasket which is why they came recommended from Dan Lesser of Viper Specialty Performance.

You snip one of the connecting strands and flip half of it over. Boom. Now you are using the later superior gasket on an earlier car.

Unsnipped, side by side

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Snipped, and flipped

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Gen 2 MLS

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Gen 3 MLS

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[Blue96GTS]

Thanks for the input everyone. Finding exhaust manifold gaskets is more exhausting than I thought it should be.

Yes, the flanges are stamped - P1-5 and D1-5. As for melting everything near - bingo!

Dave, the part number I'm finding for your recommendations is a 05037195 AC, can you confirm??

Thanks,
Mike

[dave6666]

Dave, the part number I'm finding for your recommendations is a 05037195 AC, can you confirm??

That is correct.

[Hoonin88]

I've had success using copper RTV on headers and exhaust manifolds.

[dave6666]

The factory MLS gasket does not require a sealant. Nor does the aftermarket MLS on the collector. I have used a sealant in lieu of a gasket on the collector and it would quickly start to leak whereas the MLS gasket has been holding on my car now for years. So in summary, do not add any type of sealant to an MLS gasket.

0.08

[Blue96GTS]

Agreed, I should not remove the headers to reveal MLS gaskets and Hi-temp RTV as is shown in the picture below. However, the picture is useful as it shows a couple of things:

1.) The hi-temp RTV does in fact appear to stand up to some high temps! I had some exhaust work done when I first purchased the car about 10 years ago, which is probably when the goop was applied with the OEM MLS gaskets (05004014 AA).
2.) The Multiple Layers O' Steel (MLS) and the signature raised ridge in the MLS gasket should do the sealing in theory, not the goop. You can see the raised ridge outline shadow from the gasket in-between the rings of orange goop.
3.) The goop makes a fine imprint indicator as to perhaps let you know where you are having a leak. But, seems like you'd have to take the headers off to find the gap in the imprint, then fix the leak, no?
4.) Now I gotta clean the dried goop off. The person who used the goop in the first place had to clean it off his/her hands, pants, glasses and hair after they got done putting it on. Not hard, but messy.
5.) Seemingly a better MLS gasket, applied with no goop, should address any alignment imperfections seen in the mating surfaces of my independent aftermarket headers to a theoretical flat surface of the heads.
6.) I'm not an engineer by degree nor designer of MLS gaskets. I just don't want to mess around with exhaust leaks.


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[Hoonin88]

I've used Copper RTV in place of a gasket. This is on boosted applications as well. No issues

[ViperTony]

If the flange and head surfaces are flat gasket sealer works though the Gen3 MLS gaskets without sealer are proven and relatively inexpensive.