UnbelievabLS1

iTrader: (5)

The reason I ask is this. I'm about to do a cam swap, but at the same time I'm pulling the heads and replacing a few bent valves. I've found that compressed gasket thickness on the 97-01 gaskets is 0.056", and the 02's is 0.060". What, if any, will the compression difference be? Will the 02' gaskets cause for slightly lower compression, or am I thiking about that backwards?

Also, the 97-01 gaskets are made of a composite material, whereas the 02's are a steel shim style gasket. Are there any benefits to one or the other?

Thanks for any help guys.

UnbelievabLS1

iTrader: (5)

Anyone?

Scalpel

iTrader: (4)

The differences will be negligable, IMO. It's a differences of 0.004. The LS1s in '01 and '02 are rated at the same compression from the factory.

Inspector12

iTrader: (29)

Look on SDPC website they have a write up about this exact question. They tell you witch head gaskets will work for different years and the 02-03 gaskets will not work on the earlier models. one of the coolant passages around the number 6 and number 5 pistons will cause it to leak coolant depending on the year of the head. There is a small half moon shaped indention on some heads that will leak if you use the wrong gasket just a heads up. As far as the compression you will not know the difference in power that is messurable.

Scalpel

iTrader: (4)

I used the '02-'03 MLS gaskets on my '00 C5. It depends on the heads, not the year. If the heads have that "U" shaped region the you MUST use the graphite gaskets. If they're perfectly flat all around, the MLS can be used.

UnbelievabLS1

iTrader: (5)

Exactly what I was needing to know guys.