ScrapFC

iTrader: (5)

Hey all,
After going through a few too many sets of stock and aftermarket exhaust gaskets on my GXL, (The stockers lasted until the first time I took off my exhaust and the crappy gaskets I got from NAPA lasted about 200 miles) I got fed up and cut a set out of .125 annealed copper. After I installed them, they leaked a tiny bit until the first time I got them good and hot and haven't leaked a bit since. I expect them to last the life of the car.
I got to talking with a friend this morning who is a machinist and a tool-and-die maker. If there's enough interest, he'll make me a set of dies and we'll punch these out for anyone who wants them for any stock or aftermarket exhaust. Copper melts at just a hair under 2000deg F and conducts heat VERY well. Should stand up to turbo- or N2O-related exhaust temps just fine.
What does everyone think? Any interest? Your (constructive) input is very much appreciated.

Scalliwag

they'll work great and will hold up fine.

ScrapFC

iTrader: (5)

Thanks Scalliwag. I'm a fan of overbuilding. I like to build something once and never worry about it again.

ScrapFC

iTrader: (5)

Anyone else? I expect to be able to sell these for $10 each (Plus shipping) if there's enough interest. They should be the last set you ever need to buy.

bejbis

eah, your looking at a market of people with n/a's and i assume have stock exhasts, i would be intrested, but are you willing to suit the people with 3'' exhausts? 2.5'' 2''? and theres also different types of flanges. what are you talking about makeing exactly?

-Daniel

ScrapFC

iTrader: (5)

I'll be shear-cutting to match the flange shape and using stamping dies to cut out the exhaust and bolt holes. I'll be able to build to order for any kind of exhaust system. I can cut from different thicknesses if that's what people want, but for now I'm using .125 becasue that way I never have to think about it again.

5 point whoa

you think it would work from engine to header?? or maybe a little bit thicker??

ScrapFC

iTrader: (5)

Should work just fine engine to header. I can knock those out for no more than $15 once I have my dies. I don't think it should be any thicker than .125, though. The only reason I'm even going that thick is to let it survive the inevitable abuse when the exhaust system is rebuilt/messed with for the 5th or 6th time. The really nice thing about going thick is that even after the copper work-hardens from the heat and compression it won't crack or split. The worst that should happen is after 5-10 years and a few teardowns it might leak a tiny bit as it hardens. If it does, cherry it with a torch and dunk it in cold water to anneal it and make it dead soft again.

5 point whoa

yeah, I dought I'll get them though, it'll be awhile before I do my exhaust

ScrapFC

iTrader: (5)

I don't expect to be able to begin any real production before March or April. I'm just putting this out to see if enough people are going to want these to justify making the dies. If there isn't a lot of interest, then I'm not doing anyone any favors setting up to make them. On the other hand, if 1% of the people on this forum want a set, I can keep myself pretty busy for a few months.

5 point whoa

I dont think I can get them at all, knowing my brother we'll have sold the car before we do the exhaust(his car is to unreliable for him because he doesnt work on the stuff thats broken (clutch master cylinder,back glass about to fall off. so we might have to sell the car, but otherwise, I might want em

5 point whoa

BTW, good luck selling them, it's always good when your making a little cash and helping other people out.

Thanks, hopefully I can get some later on

chairchild

I'll have a set man!!!

I'm in the UK, so postage would be a fair bit - but I'd rather pay a bit and get a decent HARDCORE gasket, than pay a little, and get some pathetic gasket that needs replacing every time I remove the engine

ScrapFC

iTrader: (5)

Thanks for the vote of confidence! I'll ship anywhere...

scathcart

A company already makes an engine-to-exhaust-manifold copper gasket; its nothing new. Summit racing sells it I know, I would have to check the part number. I would like to see some of the other exhaust gaskets being made.

ScrapFC

iTrader: (5)

Hmm. Any idea how much Summit sells them for? I searched their website and couldn't find them. If they've got a lot of markup I might be able to undercut them.

Scalliwag

1/8" thick is plenty thick. If you are worried about flex at the flanges you can springload the bolts which is real common.
While they may or may not be lifetime you would definately get much more than $15 worth out of them. You will sell the hell out of them. Especially if you make for the larger exhausts. People running stock are not nearly as likely to use them as more seasoned guys that have burned their fair share of stock gaskets.
Copper gaskets have been used for a long time with the V8 hot rodders.

sunrotor

...from summitracing.com
Specialty Component Engineering PN SCE-9422
RX-7 Rotary Embossed Copper Gasket (for engine to manifold\header) $ 24.99
See page 48 of catalog @ scegaskets.com for illustration.
Summit also was showing a two-bolt exhaust system gasket SCE-4225 for 6.95 (2-1/4" id). I believe our rex's need 2-1/2".

wwilliam54

id get one

PPC-Racing

we're actually moving into production on these in two weeks, but we're using a CNC router to cut them instead, we're going to try a two pc. and one pc. to see which works better.

Scalliwag

Damn if you had a plasma head for that CNC that would really rock.

chairchild

Any idea how much postage would be to the UK?

Oh yeah, and it needs to be 2 1/2" (im awkward like that)

ScrapFC

iTrader: (5)

Sunrotor: Thanks for the info. I'm pretty sure I can beat the engine-manifold price easily.
PPC-Racing: CNC, huh? That'll be fun. Are you going into large-scale production? If so, what kind of pricing do you have in mind?
Chairchild: It looks like shipping to the UK is about $5-$10 depending on how fast you want it.
Thanks for the feedback! Down with OEM gaskets! (They suck)

teamstealth

jumping in late, but will these be available for FD's with stock twins? with single turbos? How about from turbo manifold to downpipe?

-Zach

coldy13

I'm already using copper exhaust gaskets, they work great I just went to the hardware store, bought some small sheets of thin copper, marked them and cut them with a jigsaw that's in my basement.