Reply to "Exhaust Systems - Theory"

As far as tightening the header-to-exhaust pipe bolts, it depends on the gasket used, Due to the design of the muffler braket used, there is a force applied down the pipe to the header flange when you hit a bump. So in my experience, the thick dough-nut gaskets last very little time, resulting in loose bolts & leaks. A flat gasket can be substituted with no flange chanegs at all, and will not pound out, but may require you to true up the flanges if they've been severely bent over the last 32 years. I also double-nut all the flange bolts, first applying Anti-Sieze to the bolts.