How to Remove Exhaust Header to Muffler Gaskets/Donuts?

I used a hacksaw blade and slowly cut it off onn my 308 but a Dremmel tool would probably work. If it is asbestos you may want to keep it wet and use the hacksaw blade method.

 

Mine also came apart in pieces. Like Walt, I just hacked at them and soaked with PB blaster (I have no idea if that step actually helped). I also heated them up with a torch. Once I could get a good grip on a piece, they seemed to come off o.k- just use needle nose vice grips. It probably took about a 1/2 hour each.

good luck

 

try this it has worked for me on various items that have welded themselves together by rust.get a battery hydrometer.suck a small amount of acid out of a battery and saturate the ring.make sure it wont run off.have a beer and ponder about studs .leave over night.put a bit more on in the morning and think about getting new nuts ,bolts or studs on the way home.put some baking soda and water on it to stop that stinging sensation in that cut .which you got when the chisel slipped while scraping 2 days ago.
havent got a small propane burner.gentle heat cold water.hope this helps.remember skin grows back. Tony

 

Kroil is the best but hard to find. PB Blaster is almost as good and easier to find.

Ken

 

The header end has a metal tube sticking out that extends up inside the donut.

Thus the donut ends up sitting around the tube in a tapered recess in the header, & the mating flange's taper clamps onto the donut.

Your best bet will be to get a small cold chisel or screw driver & hammer & work the old donut gasket out.

When I pulled my rear header last year, the tube was in such rough shape that pieces of it came off with the donut. I ended up cutting the tube off & just using the tapered flange with a silver colored donut from the local auto parts store. Suspect the donut was graphite, but it could have been metalized.