What model do you have?
Perhaps exhaust gasket burned out?

I have the 6901’s and I would be surprised it’s rusted out.
I’m using the copper exhaust gasket from Mr Gasket.

My 25+ year old crappy fitting, thin walled, thin exhaust flange tri-y’s sprang a pinhole within a month when new.
Got the leaks fixed and still holding...granted not very many miles after moving out of California.
These old tri-y’s have only been treated to wire brushing and hi temp exhaust paint.
Definitely thinner tubing compared to my Hookers.

Going to look and evaluate today ..
Don't think it's a leaking gasket problem  ! ?
Because of rust spots on ceramic coating I think it's leaking through the tubes ??


MS : I have GT-40P alumni the head ports are rectangle not oval aren't they ??
 
 

RV6 wrote:

To my untrained eye it looks as if the ceramic coating has failed after many years and the tubes are just rusting as normal. I don't see any soot that would indicate a leak.

I agree with RV6.  My JBA's have some (but less) rust on stainless steel, ceramic coated headers that are around ten years old.  Mine do not leak.

Those spark plug angles do not look like those on GT40P heads...  Am I seeing it wrong?
 

Shade tree leak test..............
With the air cleaner off and the engine warm........pour some A/T fluid down the carb while reving up and keeping it running.
IF you got a leak ......the smoke will show you where!
After my  heart breaking.....cuss session.....knuckle busting...aggrevating....dissapointing...header swap out early this spring I suggest you clean and repair you Hookers IF POSSIBLE!
  If they fit good and sound good and  hang good......don't assume new ones will be the same!!
By all means don't use Patriot mid length headers (like I did!) Especially if you have a Z-bar clutch linkage.
   From the looks of yours and the age of them........they don't look bad. May be worth trying to save.
   IF welding up a pin hole or two........don't try to 'dob' a little weld on the hole. You will most likely just blow the hole bigger!  Use a little patch maybe the size of a quarter and weld that AROUND  the pin hole where the metal is prolly a little thicker.
Hope this helps
6sally6

Well you boy's might have it right  
MS & RV6 :  stamping say's  SVO  no bars that I can see ... Maybe just one ??
what is my screen resolution

Last edited by Vkt-66 (12/20/2020 3:01 PM)

What is the black spiderweb looking thing near the collector?  Is it cracked there?

Ceramic coatings are applied like power coating, to my knowledge.
If yours were actually dipped into a vat, there may have been impurities in solution.
Or surface preparation wasn’t ideal before coating.
Impurities trapped under the coating might be rusting through.
Especially if metal is solid.

Just remember that manufactures do not suggest breaking in an engine with coated headers.