I have the headers sitting here and just came from the dealer with the gaskets. Is it normal for them not to fit exactly in the groove on the a-pipe (it's just a bit smaller)? Same goes for both the manifold side and catalytic side. The part numbers are the one correct ones. Do I heat them up and make them fit somehow?

And also there seems to be a flatter side on each o-ring gasket. which side is it supposed to be sitting in there?

 

I dont think the oem o-ring gaskets are meant to fit the comptech headers --- the seals are differently shaped if i remember correctly.

I used a different part number for my XS headers, but i dont remember which it was.

Edit: The manifold gasket will be fine, its the seals that actually connect the pipes were talking about right?

 

Yes.

As far as I remember everyone is talking about using the oem gaskets, I just came across a post the other day where the dude listed the exact same part numbers

 

OEM manifold gaskets not the O ring ones. You can buy them from CT or any exhaust shop can size them up with something they have. Compression gaskets(they are called) are common.

 

That's what I got from Acura. The last time I was taking that stuff apart that's what I saw on the original downpipe. It is a round gasket with some filling inside that fits into the groove in 3 places: between manifolds and downpipe and between downpipe and catalytic.

 

i think i just reused mine. when i did the header install.

 

Found some aftermarket gaskets but the quality sucks compared to OEM ones. They look like they don't have any filling inside like originals and are very light in comparison. But they fit, I hope there won't be any trouble using those.