Exhaust leaks, Any tricks to getting the HEs to seat properly? Options

[KaptKaos]

I have had my heat exchangers off and on now about 4 times, trying to make sure that they are seated and tight. I have checked the copper gasket, put in new ones and still I get popping or back firing on decel.

Tonight I pulled the driver's side and flat filed the tops of the HEs to make sure I have a good surface. Nothing drastic, just trying to make it flat and smooth.

Is there any trick to getting everything buttoned up properly?

[Garland]

I used two copper gaskets, instead of one. took care of it for me.

[Cap'n Krusty]

I used two copper gaskets, instead of one. took care of it for me.

That's ABSOLUTELY the WRONG way to do it. Just makes another place for leaks to happen, and lessens the engagement of the nuts. File the pipes flat, doing both at the same time, so they're parallel. I clamp the HE to a bench and work across the 2 flanges until they're flat. Heating and slowly cooling the gaskets sounds like a good ides, although I've never done it. Pull the nuts up evenly, tighten them down, run it, retighten them when the system is hot. BTW, torching an asbestos filled copper crush washer as another poster suggested isn't something a professional would even think of.

The Cap'n

[Gint]

BTW, torching an asbestos filled copper crush washer as another poster suggested isn't something a professional would even think of.

And exactly 'who in the world' suggested that? To be more specific, what copper crush washer is filled with abestos?