Reply to "Chirpy Exhaust Note"

I had a whisping noise from the right side and discovered it was the exhaust header gasket after putting it up on jack stands and using a stethescope from underneath the car.

If it's the header gasket,the asy way to replace it is to remove all the header bolts except the two on each end, then make cut-outs on the header gasket to go over the holes. Pull the old gasket out with the headers still attached, but loose, and slide the new one in, over the bolts with the cut-outs. If there's any difficulty removeing the old gasket, slide a putty knife along the gasket to loosen it from the engine and it'll come right out. I used severa brands and like NAPA's best after having this problem recur a couple of times. NAPA's gaskets are thick, have metal webbing structure covered by pretty thick asbestous.

What make's me wonder, is you said it happens for 5-10 minutes. When my header gasket blew, it didn't get fixed by itself after 10 minutes. It continued to make a whisping noise. Once the new gaskets were installed, it made the exhaust note much quieter from the inside cabin.

The headers at the mufflers also get loose. Those three bolts at the flange vibrate loose. I use double nutted stainless bolts. That seems to work well and stay tight. There's tow types of gaskets: flat gaskets and donut gaskets. I use donut gaskets so they let me adjust the muffler assembly direction a little to get some room for the ANSA's by the rear tires. 335/354/17's are about 3/8" from the ANSA's with maximum adjustment at the donut gasket flange.

The header gasket blow out isn't a function of bolt tightness, it's more a function of header gasket design. NAPA part number: 95080SG.

If it's not one of those two things, then I'd be getting worried. Not getting worried now, are ya DOES200? I'd just check for tightness on the flange 1st, then get a stethescope at the drug store, or put a hose in yer ear.... Good time to do a little more detailing on that show car, dude.