has anybody tried making their own exhaust gaskets for their turbo. i dont have a lot of time to get to dealerships to get turbo gaskets so if i can make them that would be awesome. the fit seems pretty good, i kinda wonder if i could get away w/o them at all. i doubt it though

 

Are you talking about the gasket that mates up between the turbo and exhaust manifold? As long both surfaces are flat and not warped, you can ------ a thin layer of grease on the flanges (both sides) and bolt them together. It will bake together and form a seal. Thats the way the turbo dodges are put together. I've used this mehod many times when odd exhaust housings are used and gaskets aren't available. Absolutely no leaks.

 

I've made some out of copper sheets

 

i've heard of people using a pop can, actually i made one using a pop can to try to see how hard it was, and its really easy. i never tried to use it though :P

 

yes, im talking abuot from the adaptor plate to the turbo and from the turbo to the downpipe. a guy at pep boys said aluminum foil might work. kinda made since if i used a few layers of it. i might try the grease though. i considered a thin layer of JB weld but it would be nice to be able to get it appart one day. lol

 

You can go to NAPA and buy some high temp gasket material. its grey and has metal in teh middle. I dont use any gaskets on my setup at all. It all seals up fine.

What kind of grease would you put on teh surfaces to bake them together?

 

i made one out of a stock heat shield once

 

I used high temp RTV selant covered bother surfaces, used it on both sides of the exhaust mani gasket and then used just rtv between the turbo and mani and turbo and downpipie, i didn't have any leaks except where one bolt came loose between the mani and turbo the down side is all the orange sticking out between the flanges but it was just accent engine coloring

 

i cut wicked ones out of a 2" copper pipe. (12" long) first i cut the pipe on the chop saw, then put it in a vice to flatten it out into a sheet. then traced out the gaskets i needed to make (down pipe, hf side, and t3 turbine inlet) also some exhaust flange gaskets. then i drilled any holes on the drill press. finally, cut it close to rough shape with some tin snips, and use a file or a grinder to make them perfect. you would'nt even be able to tell i made these... ill see if i can get some pics while my car is apart.

 

just regular axle/wheel bearing grease will work.