Drivers side header donut gasket not sealing

[bambbrose]

This is for my daily truck, having trouble getting it to seal up and was looking for advice.

2004 GMC 1500
Stock 5.3L

Hit a stump while offroading on the cat/y-pipe, whatever you want to call it.

Now it is leaking from that stupid donut gasket seal.

I've pulled off the entire Cat/y-pipe and replaced the donuts on both sides, torqued to oem specs, and still leaked. I then CRANKED on the three nuts, until my craftsman deep socket broke! and it's still leaking from between the flanges on the drivers side.

Just to clarify, this is the gasket between the oem cast manifold, and the oem Cat/y-pipe.

On this particular vehicle, the drivers side is a small crush ring, and the passenger side is a large traditional donut gasket.

Any advice on how to seal this up for good? It is a daily, and I can't be tearing it down often. I need a permanent solution. I have confirmed that the leak is coming from between the flanges, and that neither flange is cracked.

Thanks

[farmtruc]

Lmao only funny cause we ran into this today and have seen it before. We fixed it of course.

Problem: u bent the ypipe and with both sides being rigidly connected u will never get them to seal.
Trust me, cut one side where it will be easily welded, get both sides squared up on the manifold, tighten evenly.

Now address the cut ypipe. Options for reconnecting the cut ypipe, have a sleeve made and weld it up or have a buddy line it up and go at it with the welder.