1964 427 cast iron header gasket question

[64gal482]

Hey guys, about to finally drop in my Survival Motorsports built 482 into my 1964 Galaxie and have a couple of questions, The first is can this be done with the factory cast iron long tubes headers bolted on? My second question is what do you recommend for header gaskets (Survival heads w/ factory 427 cast iron headers) or do I just use RTV or both?

Thank you all for your insight!

Jose

[The Real McCoy]

I have 63 427 heads (iron) and long tube 427 cast iron headers with no gaskets and no sealers of any kind  No leaks or problems of any kind after15,000 street miles. JMHO gaskets are more prone to leaking than no gaskets.  Ford did not use them.

[shady]

I don't think they clear the a frames, at least my shorties didn't. I would put them kind of in place so when you drop the motor your not trying to wrestle them in position to bolt up.

[ToddK]

I installed the engine with long cast headers attached into my ‘63 Galaxie, went in okay. I only used a sealant, no gaskets, and never had a leak problem.

[olman]

  I put my 428 in my 63 fastback with the cast iron long tube headers in place but left them loose but I had 2 of my Buddies helping, one to guide around the clutch linkage and one to wiggle things down in place. The best part was when we finished and out came the beer!

[cammerfe]

As said above, Ford didn't use any gaskets at all between heads and iron headers on new 427s. But keep in mind that they were bolting two freshly-machined surfaces together.

When I put a freshly gone-through 390 into my '63 Effie ICB, the long headers were far from new and a bit worn. I chose to use the sort of gaskets that have a layer of gasket material on both sides of a sheet-metal perforated core. I also used stainless,, slightly-longer header bolts and stainless washers. The headers were bolted on completely before the engine/toploader was lowered into place. And I had someone on each side and another under the driver's-side floor to help everything go into place properly. Everything worked just fine, and I had a couple of wrenches made up that'd be of use to do a re-tightening job as the gaskets took a set over the first couple of weeks of driving.

I had no problem with leaks, and when I pulled the engine again after several years, everything was in good shape. If I had the same set of circumstances again, I'd do the same thing. Sometimes gaskets DO have a useful purpose.

KS

[64gal482]

As usual you guys and this forum are the best!

Thank you all for the advice.

Jose

[FirstEliminator]

While tight, I was able to drop the 482 in my 68 Colony Park with the C5 long cast headers bolted on the engine. I used studs with nuts I stead of header bolts. You MUST be careful with studs as a couple that are covered will attempt to puncture the manifold if you tighten the ends down without realizing a couple are too long.  I used Percy's Seal-4-Good gaskets with mine.
  I don't hear any exhaust leaks, just a fuck-ton of piston slap.

[GJCAT427]

When I built my 427 med riser for my 56 F100 I use 63 cast long tube headers. The fit was good but I did install the manifolds after the motor was in. My prep for the mating faces was a good cleanup of both the heads and the manifolds with Scotchbrite discs on a small polisher. Surfaces were clean and flat, next all exhaust holes were chased and blown clean. Instead of using carbon steel bolts I opted for bronze bolts to hold the manifolds to the heads. I did use Felpro exhaust gaskets to complete the deal. The gaskets were modifiyed on the bottom holes to allow the gaskets to slide in with the bottom bolts in place. I then installed the top bolts and tightened  eveything up. Every year I checked the bronze bolts and tighten a small turn. Been that way for 10 or so yrs till this summer, The end gaskets on the backend of the heads finally blew out. It was a hour job to loosen the bolts and replace the gaskets with the modifyed gaskets. Again the under hood noise was no popping just the normal 427 exhaust note and the sound of solids.