Not going down the "do or don`t need `em " track. I have a copper set of gaskets with a ridge around the ehaust ports. I am surmising these will compress almost flat .This will force the lip into the exhaust area . Some of the lips --about 1/4 " wide are already just on the edge prior to compression. Should I do a dummy run and tighten them (when I get the headers ) ,unbolt them and file the copper back to the size of exhaust on heads ? OR, am I getting a little **** about all this ??
At this juncture ,some time has been spent porting the heads and ofcourse I don`t relish any cu. gasket lips cocking up the airflow !
cheers
mike

 

I would do it. **** or not, it is your car and you will be more satisfied if you do it. It surely can't hurt anything.

 

It might damage the gaskets to torque them and then un torque them. Can they be used multiple times? I think you would get the best seal if you torqued the gaskets and then left them on (only tightening the headers if needed).

 

The whole point of the embossed bead is to be the sealing surface. If you torque them them remove them, there is no guarantee that they will go back the same way, negating the whole purpose of the embossed bead. If you are really that worried, get solid copper gaskets.