is it just me or do summit racing shorty headers suck?

[Herbie Hancock]

I had purchased a pair of Summit Racing shorty headers for my Bronco (302), mostly because my manifold was leaking anyway, plus I wanted it to be louder. Anyway, myself and a Ford ASE certified mechanic put them on last Saturday and we cannot seem to get them to fit quite right. No matter how we tighten here-and-there it always seems that there is a leak somewhere. We went over it again last night and it sounded a little bit better, but then I was driving to class today and all of the sudden it started that ticking sound much worse. It was all ready ticking but it got MUCH worse, and is bordering on totally embarrassing. It sounds terrible... You know when the clicking is more loud than the exhaust coming out of the tips it's bad.
Has anyone else had this experience with Summit headers or other types, and what did you do? I know that these are supposed to "bolt on", and I know that term is usually b.s. but this is rediculous. I am driving it to work tomorrow (I work at a Ford dealership) and I want this to be the last time I drive it with this rediculous racket because I hate to be reduced to driving my Fiance's Mitsubishi Eclipse, which is almost as embarrassing as driving a truck with 1000 decibels of exhaust leak.

[NDIXIE]

Why don't you call Summit and tell them. Maybe you have a set that was done on a Friday and just aren't quite to spec, maybe they will replace them.
I put a set on mine about 3 months ago and I have not had one problem with mine.

[89_Bronco_Magnum]

Just double gasket them. I have had to do that with brand name headers. Lots of times they come a little warped after welding. Give it a shot, I have had good luck with it.

[jimsl78]

I used The "Summit" Headers on my 302, and had to file off some weld slag to make them flush against a piece of glass. Also used MR Gasket "ultra seal" gaskets.
(other than the PITA instalation.......no problems here)

[ScottMoore]

call summit and tell them, they have great customer service. summit has another company make them for them, i could be wrong but i think it is flowtech. personally, if they leak bad enough to have to use two gaskets i would send them back. if they are leaking i would not drive the truck to much because it can mess up the exhaust valve.

[Kenny's 94]

I had a pair and was never able to stop the leaks, finally I made them replace the headers with another brand. Your right they suck. By the way are they leaking at the Y pipe like mine were?

[1clean5.8]

I had JBAs on my mustang they leaked so I took them off and replaced the gaskets with a thicker gasket then tightend from the inside out. it got rid of the problem.

[kemicalburns]

i to had bad luck with the summit brand headers. i even bought expensive felpro gaskets and that didnt help either. the summit headers are manufacturers seconds already from either flowtech or pacesetter. if you want leak free headers you need to spend the extra doe for some good ones like gibson,jba, edelbrock or bassini.

headers should always be tightened down from the center out. and good gaskets should always be used.

[lightnin]

Didn't you sign the Declaration of Independance. lol "ha ha John Hancock, It was Herbie Hankcock"

[Injected]

Same problem I had with mine on my 351, I had to double gasket them to get rid of the leaks.

[85f150]

Its a hedder thing. There is that new deadsoft copper gasket i have heard great reviews about. On my inline i am just using the heddman paper gasket but the num 1 cyl leaks slightly but i don't care.

[badpony93]

on my 351 i bought gibson shorties and had to take the inner fender wells out which gave me much better access and i went through and made sure every bolt was tight. and then i noticed the egr tube had a nice crack in it, so that had to be replaced now it sounds great, no leaks at all.

[raynman]

i had nothing but problems w/ my summit/pacesetter shorties. i contacted summit and they offered to bring them back, sell them as used and give me a piece of the action. they did not seem to concerned that the pair they shipped me had a pair of o2 bungs that my, otherwise stock, 95 had no use for and i had to plug w/ a pair of sparkplugs that i broke off the insulators and screwed in.

i have since put my stock manifolds back on and almost have them sealed up to by bassani pipe. summit had a deal that threw in a free set of header bolts (the kind that lock) w/ the purchase of a set of their branded headers. the bolts suck. if you can't get on them 100% they round off like the potmetal pos's that they are and the allen head holes are for crap.

[Kenny's 94]

After sending back my Pace Setter headers, I had Summit send me a set of Hedman headers, thats been over 2yrs. ago. They bolted up with no problems, in 2yrs. I've had no header leaks and the upgrade cost me $20.00
I can't believe Summit is putting their name on this junk.

[93BIGBLACKBRONCO]

You get what you pay for.

[B-man]

Exactly.. YOu get what you pay for. I got Summits on my rig.. No problems with them.. My ticking only came when the header bolts came loose.. Fixed that up. No probs.. I had a set of Hedman's on there before and they lasted a year. These are going two years I believe? Maybe one. can't remember.. But, still seem to be going strong.. The Ford stock Y-pipe design for the exhuast sucks on any header from what I was told.. Guess, some got lucky with the Summit's and some didn't. Hope you get your situation all figured out..