Passenger side header gasket blown in my 2002 mustang gt with shortys.

[cobrarwanab]

Im thinking I have a blown header gasket on my passenger side in my 2002 gt mustang. I have a terrible popping noise even under light acceleration and it grumbles under deceleration. I recently installed a stainless steel h-pipe but used a quality header flange gasket. I got under the car but can only see/feel 3 of the 8 bolts that hold the header to the head. Is their a secret to getting to the others or do I have to unbolt and rase the engine to access? 2 valve 4.6 with bbk shortys.

 

[mustangmike6996]

Im thinking I have a blown header gasket on my passenger side in my 2002 gt mustang. I have a terrible popping noise even under light acceleration and it grumbles under deceleration. I recently installed a stainless steel h-pipe but used a quality header flange gasket. I got under the car but can only see/feel 3 of the 8 bolts that hold the header to the head. Is their a secret to getting to the others or do I have to unbolt and rase the engine to access? 2 valve 4.6 with bbk shortys.

As far as accessing the bolts, you might need to raise the engine but you should be able to get at the bolts with a 1/4 drive ratchet or wrench (that is all I used on my 96 GT with BBK long tubes) You should not have to drop the K member. I do remember pretty much tucking my arms down in the fender aprons around the block without looking what I was doing. It was all based on feel.

Now, with the noise, are you sure its exhaust related? Maybe a loose spark plug? can you see any header tubes/flange for the pipe? Is there any signs of carbon buildup?

 

[cobrarwanab]

As far as accessing the bolts, you might need to raise the engine but you should be able to get at the bolts with a 1/4 drive ratchet or wrench (that is all I used on my 96 GT with BBK long tubes) You should not have to drop the K member. I do remember pretty much tucking my arms down in the fender aprons around the block without looking what I was doing. It was all based on feel.

Now, with the noise, are you sure its exhaust related? Maybe a loose spark plug? can you see any header tubes/flange for the pipe? Is there any signs of carbon buildup?

The sound seems to be coming from one of the two primary tubes closest to the fire wall or possibly the connection between the h-pipe and the header. Im thinking its the header gasket as I used quality h-pipe to header gasket. I only have a little jack at my disposal so I could only see so much. But the aria around the h-pipe to header flange was tight with no carbon. I also used soapy water to look for bubbles from a cold start but saw nothing. As for the header gasket even after removing all intake tubes and moving my ac line's I still was unable to access the 5 remaining bolts due to the design of the primary tubes. The noise seems to be coming from the firewall aria. Its like you can here an individual cylinder popping at idol. Im gonna check my rear plugs again to make shure there was no blow out. Also, in reference to the header to h-pipe gasket what direction should it be installed? I put the raised ring side tword the header, is this correct?

 

[mustangmike6996]

Is it the stock style flat passenger side gasket? I thing that the "nipple" side goes does toward the manifold. Maybe drop the H pipe and check the gasket to verify its not smashed. There is a member on here selling a replacement if you need one.