When I put my SPF together I only had 5 days from the time I got the engine until VIN inspection. I used paper gaskets because I couldn't get copper in time to get everything put together. I used ARP stainless 12-point bolts. Sure looked good. The paper gaskets went out after about 200 miles. We were going to Aspen CO with a group of Cobras when both gaskets burned out near the top of Independence Pass. I had left 3 ARP bolts on the road somewhere. Coming back through Eisenhower Tunnel (a mile and a half downhill) the guys with us said I was shooting flames out of the pipes when I left off the gas. A lot of backfiring going on, too.
I got the copper gaskets and used Stage 8 locking header bolts and haven't had a problem since. The Stage 8 bolts have cam-like devices that slip over the bolt head and rest against the header tubes. These are held on with C-clips. No way these bolts will back out. Check them out at
www.stage8.com .
Al Bockman