The paper gasket that Pacesetter provided only lasted 6 months for me.

It blew out all 3 sides



It provided a pretty annoying exhaust leak, you could feel it in your feet. I made a video of it, but it is pretty hard to pick up that its 2x as loud as normal.


I figured I could tackle the leak myself, but after working on the car for over an hour, and not being able to get the top bolt from the header collector out, I gave up. It is just to hard to reach when the exhaust is in place. It seemed that the clamps that hold the header collector in didn't even need to be there. Even with them undone, I couldn't even shake the exhaust free a millimeter. So I gave up and changed Shannon'* oil instead. I knew I was going to my dad'* shop this weekend for Easter, so we could do it there, with all his special tools.

*insert stupid moment here* I forgot to hook up the o2 and collector clamps, who knows why. But after 2 minutes of driving I got a SES light. The code was telling me I wasn't getting any voltage from my o2. I said to myself, DUH! Drove back up on the ramps and plugged the o2 back in. I figured I didn't need to worry about the clamps since the exhaust was rock-solid without them. I headed off to my parents house, 3 hours away.

About 1 hour into the trip, I was playing with my camera and doing some hi-speed runs. On my 3rd run, this happened.


Scared the **** out of me, I thought I blew my motor or something. I pulled over and found that the collector had completely came disconnected from the 2 outlet manifolds. Luckily the exhaust hangers held the exhaust out of the way. I ended up driving for 2 hours OPEN HEADER. Holy annoying. I realize that it was not safe, legal or practical, but it was Friday evening and there were no shops open. The pipes would have been much to hot for me to be messing with anyways. So yea, 2 hours of blaring radio to cover up the exhaust roar.

Finaly got to my dad'* shop and using his special tools, we were able to get the collector off.


I went to Advance Auto and bought this Lifetime aluminum header gasket.


Some Ultra Copper RTV and we are back in business










If anyone is interested, I have an extra aluminum gasket like that (package of 2) and will be putting it in the forsale section soon

I thought you knew about the shitty pacesetter gaskets? It'* been posted a few times here.

I'm surprised you even used them. What manufacturer are the other gaskets on your headers?

I knew, but I used them anyways. I never researched if there was any other options.

What other gaskets?

I'm assuming the exhaust manifold gasket?

I re-used the stock ones.

Im really suprised it lasted 6mos for you, mine lasted like a week and blew out at WOT on i-290

dang, 02 sensor placement sucks on 2K+
not very often we see videos of the malfunctions happening

these are headers, the o2 is not in the same spot as manifolds. All s2 share the same o2 sensor placement on the rear manifold.

by anyways, I think the placement is great. easily accessible from under the car.

ahh gotcha. i like being able to get at it without having to get under the car though. its not bad at all wit the the 02 wrench.

Is that Pacesetter gasket really just paper (pressed fiber), no metal mesh core or anything?

If so, that'* just inexcusible. Decent exhaust gasket material can be gotten cheap.