Header Install Question

My Kooks Headers came with all new bolts and gaskets. In the past I have always reused stock studs and OEM gaskets. Whats everyone on here doing, sticking with OEM studs and gaskets or removing studs and using Kooks hardware and gaskets? The bolts appear to be high quality and come with the locking fastners to keep them from backing off. Thanks guys.

Leonard

I reused the stock gaskets and used the bolts that came with the kit.

we have done it many times and used the stock studs and gaskets. Some headers you may have to use a few bolts as the studs won't work

Use what you can or a combo of both. When I did mine I couldn't get the headers on with all the factory studs. I used the Kooks gaskets too, they looked just like the Percys ones.

I used all the stock studs and bought new stock gaskets. I have 1 3/4 Looks headers.
Took a weekend to do. Research header installation and videos and I also used numerous brand header install instruction sheets.... Ratchet swivel end box wrenches will be your friend.
Seems daunting but it wasnt too bad, mark and let your k member hang. I fought that and I wasted a lot of time.
All the research i did before hand helped out a ton.....

Reused the factory gaskets and used the factory studs with 1 7/8 mid lengths. Just drop the k member and you will have more than enough room. Factory gaskets are MLS so no leaks.

Same here. Stock studs and new Ford gaskets.

Thanks for all of the replies, I have had great luck with factory gaskets in the past and ill try to reuse the factory ones, they only have 8k miles on them so it shouldnt be a problem.

As for the install, I prefer doing all the work on my car but it will be quite some time before I can dedicate 10-12 hours to get it done, this will be money well spent. Thanks again for all the tips!

Picked up the car today and I was going over everything on the car. Where the connection pipe bolts to the header we used the kooks hardware, type of bolt with locking fastener on it. I was looking over the exhaust checking to see if it was hitting anything and noticed those clips rattling, do you guys think this could cause false knock? I was using a rubber mallet to tap headers and those clips rattle a bit. I'm tempted to remove the fasteners so it's not rattling around... Just don't want bolts to come loose.

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I don't think it will.

The sensors are in the intake valley of the block. I don't know if the small vibration is strong enough to transfer through the header flange, through the heads, and to the block. Or if the resonance it creates is even in the frequency range of the knock sensor.

Not to mention all the valvetrain noise and exhaust pulses it would have to overcome.