Balenger Head Gasket Issue

[Shandon]

Anyone had problems with the Balenger head gaskets? After a very long day at Mid-Ohio beating up on some acuras and porches I started to get a unpleasant smell inside the car (Might have been the Acura I ran over ). Couldnt find what it was until I got home that night. The driver side header gasket was leaking (black soot). So I called Lou and got a replacement gasket. I did the repair but the smell only got a little better. So after removing both side sills and replacing clamps on the exhaust I thought I had fixed the issue.

I went out yesterday and the smell is still there. It is (Exhaust smell) so I take a much better look at the passanger side and I see it has a leak also at the header gasket. So now im going to replace that one also. Did I do something wrong that made these go bad so soon? I did the re-tighten after the 100 miles or so. Maybe I should do it every other track day?

Are there better head Gaskets that can hold up to Track Temps?

Thanks in advance.

 

[jk]

I used the Belanger supplied gaskets and got exhaust leaks after about 300 miles. Replaced them with the Dodge metal gaskets - no problem since. I did re-tighten the bolts after a couple of heat cyles.

 

[fqberful]

Anyone had problems with the Balenger head gaskets? After a very long day at Mid-Ohio beating up on some acuras and porches I started to get a unpleasant smell inside the car (Might have been the Acura I ran over ). Couldnt find what it was until I got home that night. The driver side head gasket was leaking (black soot). So I called Lou and got a replacement gasket. I did the repair but the smell only got a little better. So after removing bothe side sills and replacing clamps on the exhaust I thought I had fixed the issue.

I went out yesterday and the smell is still there. It is (Exhaust smell) so I take a much better look at the passanger side and I see it has a leak also at the head gasket. So now im going to replace that one also. Did I do something wrong that made these go bad so soon? I did the re-tighten after the 100 miles or so. Maybe I should do it every other track day?

Are there better head Gaskets that can hold up to Track Temps?

Thanks in advance.

If Bellanger isn't supplying the factory MLS [ stainless ] style exhaust gaskets, throw those worthless pieces of crap away. Go to a dealer and get some of the factory ones. They are cheap and they will seal properly. There's a number of internet dealers that sell them cheaper without much of a Viper tax as well.

--FQB

 

[dave6666]

The grey fiber gaskets are junk. They will get hard, brittle, and fail.

 

[Shandon]

The grey fiber gaskets are junk. They will get hard, brittle, and fail.

Thats what happened to the first one I changed out. It litteraly just fell into pieces as I pulled the header away. My first thought was "dang..what junk" but then I havn't had a lot of experience changing lots of different type cars headers out so maybe that was normal? Guess not.
Thanks Dave and I just got off the phone with the local dealership and the OEM ones will be in tomorrow. So I will have one side with OEM and the other with a Balenger gasket. Well see who looses soon enough I guess.

 

[Art 138]

First thing before installation that I was apprised of - to change to the mopar stock metal gaskets....there have been many reported issues with the ones supplied with the Belangers...in fact I heard at one point they would be coming with the metal ones......

 

[BAD BOYZZ GARAGE]

I've installed & ran personally Belanger Headers for years in the past & have always used the stock Viper Multi Layered Stainless (MLS) Steel Gasket because they just dont't fail. I tried the Belanger supplied thermal gasket & it is decent but not Track worthy. By the time your done tightening the exhaust flange down properly the Belanger supplied gasket is "smashed" pretty good & with Viper's OEM MLS Stailess Steel Gasket when properly torqued it's "compressed" the way your Viper Head Gasket or a Kometic Head Gasket would be (BY DESIGN). I run the Factory Viper MLS Stainless Steel Exhaust Gaskets on all of my ACRX-Header installtions & recommend exclusively to all clients.

Go Viper you'll be in better shape IMHO
Toddy G

 

[Shandon]

I've installed & ran personally Belanger Headers for years in the past & have always used the stock Viper Multi Layered Stainless (MLS) Steel Gasket because they just dont't fail. I tried the Belanger supplied thermal gasket & it is decent but not Track worthy. By the time your done tightening the exhaust flange down properly the Belanger supplied gasket is "smashed" pretty good & with Viper's OEM MLS Stailess Steel Gasket when properly torqued it's "compressed" the way your Viper Head Gasket or a Kometic Head Gasket would be (BY DESIGN). I run the Factory Viper MLS Stainless Steel Exhaust Gaskets on all of my ACRX-Header installtions & recommend exclusively to all clients.

Go Viper you'll be in better shape IMHO
Toddy G

Thanks Todd
Good to know and when the driver side fails again (im sure it will the way I drive) I will put the other OEM on that side too. If I get realy inspired maybe Ill just take the drivers one back out that I just replaced.

Thanks
Shandon

 

[Luvgoinfast]

I just replaced my passenger side one with a factory one. Mine came a part when we changed it lol.

 

[rhallman]

What is the OEM part number for a 2005 SRT-10? Thanks...

 

[Shandon]

What is the OEM part number for a 2005 SRT-10? Thanks...

After I pick mine up today I will let you know

 

[rhallman]

Can you provide part numbers? Thanks...

 

[ViperTony]

Can you provide part numbers? Thanks...

According to the 2005 Viper Parts Listing it's part# 05037195AC. Check with Tator as he should be able to sell them to you at a VCA discount.

 

[rhallman]

Great!!! Thanks....