Exhaust Gasket Orientation?

[RV Flyer]

Getting ready to put the new SSIs on my '78SC this weekend, and I notice that the stainless steel exhaust gaskets I ordered from our host have one side that is smooth, and the other side has a small crimped-style joint where the layers of gasket material are joined. Is there a preferred orientation for these, e.g., crimped side towards the cylinder head, or towards the header flange? Does it matter?

[Gunter]

How thick are these?

[mb911]

Originally posted by Gunter
How thick are these?

there are 2 different ones the OEM ones are thicker and have no crimp the aftermarket ones are thinner and have the crimp with a smaller ID hole as well. I typically buy 100 of them at a time and They try to slip through about 1/3 aftermarket ones with the rest oem.. all the smae part number


But to answer the question I prefer the crimped side down toward the HE

[Gunter]

I would go with the thick ones because I found that thinner ones develope blow-by when the flages are not completely parallel.

[mb911]

yup me to

[RV Flyer]

Well, I am not sure just what our host sent us. How do I tell, and should I be asking them to send a different part???

[mb911]

well like I said they both are the same part number just different manufacturers.. the ones I like btter are the ones that are thicker and are the same ones that came in my engine rebuild gasket kit from victor-reinz . I can tell you they both will work

[RV Flyer]

Looks like the ones Pelican sent me are - per the web catalogue - made by Elring Klinger. I guess I'll put them on with the crimp side towards the heat exchangers and hope for the best..... At least there should be no issues with the M&K muffler and install kit for same, right Ben?

[WP0ZZZ]

Is there a clear-cut answer as to which side faces the cylinder head and which faces the header?

[RarlyL8]

I don't know if there is a steadfast rule but we also orient the flat side (right) to the head and the crimped side (left) to the header inlet flange.

[WP0ZZZ]

Originally Posted by RarlyL8

I don't know if there is a steadfast rule but we also orient the flat side (right) to the head and the crimped side (left) to the header inlet flange.

Thanks for the comment.

I think it makes sense to do it like this as it's less likely to create an indentation in the softer aluminium heads.

[stownsen914]

Well the exhaust experts say flat side to the head, so I’m going with that

[eastbay]

Yep, steel side to the steel side.

[john walker's workshop]

3.2 exchanger gaskets are thick and compressable and rarely leak. Great for SSIs.