What makes better exhaust gasket material?

[PewterTA]

I'm about to order a sheet of gasket material to make gaskets for V Band clamps. What would be a better material to get, steel core/graphite or carbon composite? The steel core material is .063 in. thick and the carbon composite is .040 in. thick. Not sure which would be better. Thanks.

[SS2win]

I love the felpro blue gaskets on my SBC in my truck. they've outlasted 3 engines worth of swaps and mods... the graphite and carbon gaskets tear apart on the first disassembly.

[D]

You don't use gaskets with v bands. if you have an issue with leaks it is probably the wrong clamp/flange.

[PewterTA]

You don't use gaskets with v bands. if you have an issue with leaks it is probably the wrong clamp/flange.

I know it's not the norm and I had them put on today with gaskets. It can't possibly be harmful or cause them to leak to have gaskets on them can it? I figured it was just an extra safety measure that couldn't hurt.

[D]

use ultra copper rtv

[Tally TransAm]

if machined surfaces are designed to seal without a gasket, installing some can cause leaks. personally i would try without gaskets or use copper rtv as a last resort

[PewterTA]

Thanks for the info, like I said I've got the gaskets on already so I think I'll just leave them on and see how it goes. If I notice that they're leaking I'll pull the gaskets off. They're not exactly real high dollar V Bands, I got them off ebay.

[PewterTA]

I just wanted to update this and say that I pulled the gaskets off today to see if they were leaking or not. The V-Bands were not leaking, however the gasket can't cut the heat. They weren't leaking yet but they would have been soon, they were disintegrating after only a month. So, this go around I'm just going to put on some high temp silicone and call it a day. I'd also like to add that you should never buy V-Bands off ebay 'cause I broke a bolt tightening it down.