Oh man, I spent days on this, literally days. Never do exhaust yourself unless you have a lift, I wasted around 20 hours on this. I'm super depressed about this.

Anyway, I just "finished" up my install of my Vibrant header/downpipe, I couldn't get gaskets for the header/downpipe so I tried Copper RTV, I'm certain this is the error of my ways. Copper RTV theoretically works great, problem is getting the parts to mate flush so that you don't create any leaks. I created a whole shitload of leaks apparently, even though the install went pretty well (I thought) after getting the god forsaken bolts off (by far the hardest part).

Upon firing up the car it's making horrible noise and smoke is coming from underneath the engine bay and the car itself (I figure leaks right at the header and leaks at the triangle joint of the downpipe).

So, advice, can this be driven < 5 miles to the muffler shop?

Also, can muffler shops make custom gaskets? I have no way to get the gasket for the triangle joint.

Lastly, I JUST read (**** MY LIFE) that you can reuse the stock LSJ gasket for the Vibrant header. I did not do this (I used RTV) because the stock gasket's ports are actually smaller than the Vibrant's ports, strange I know... I did double check to ensure I have the right header and I do, but how is this supposed to work (smaller gasket, bigger port)?

Advice is appreciated, please be kind on me, I'm super bummed about this, I know I should have got gaskets first...

 

The LSJ gasket is bigger than the ports in the head. If it's smaller than the header, it's just that the header ports are much bigger than the head. No issue using the stock gaskets.

The 3 bolt flanges are usually a standard flange, you should be able to source a Vibrant exhaust flange gasket for your size piping.

RTV works ok but for me is still a stopgap, good gaskets installed right with proper hardware, will not leak. RTV is for people who don't want to do it the right way IMO. Yes it will "work", but why do that when the factory option works well?