MLS or Graphite? Preferred head Gasket?
06-20-2004, 11:09 PM
#1
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (47)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Pace, FL
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
MLS or Graphite? Preferred head Gasket? Which head gasket is preferred for use. Will be using 5.3's and car is an 02'. Which are the correct part #'s also. Did a search and got several different part #'s. Thanks.
John
John
06-20-2004, 11:26 PM
#2
11 Second Club
iTrader: (13)
Join Date: Jun 2002
Location: The Confederacy
Posts: 3,063
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I like the Graphite Dana gaskets because they are cheap and thin... but the MLS gaskets are a heck of alot easier to clean off the block if you ever pull your heads off again.
06-20-2004, 11:27 PM
#3
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (47)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Pace, FL
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Do the MLS hold up as well as the graphite ones? I'm really happy my car has the MLS gaskets on it to start with so I don't have to work so hard to clean the deck! 
06-20-2004, 11:58 PM
#4
!LS1 11 Second Club
I had this same dilemma.
I bought both the MLS and the Graphite gaskets.
When I pulled my stock heads off, I saw that the stock gaskets were MLS, so I chose MLS. The graphite gaskets that Gomer mentions will work too.
I have the part #'s.... written down somewhere, I'll post up if I find them.
I bought both the MLS and the Graphite gaskets.
When I pulled my stock heads off, I saw that the stock gaskets were MLS, so I chose MLS. The graphite gaskets that Gomer mentions will work too.
I have the part #'s.... written down somewhere, I'll post up if I find them.
06-21-2004, 07:21 AM
#7
!LS1 11 Second Club
Originally Posted by AidanN20
if you order mls gaskets from dealer, 02 z06 mls gaskets were $40 for the pair, very cheap
Be advised that with MLS gasket you'll loose .1>.2 CR.
Trending Topics
06-21-2004, 08:29 AM
#8
TECH Senior Member
Originally Posted by SouthFL.02.SS
I don't see it that way for an '02. We didn't have that .1 or .2 CR to begin with if we had the MLS as stockers.
I now the MLS is thicker.
06-21-2004, 09:40 AM
#9
The mls tri-metal gaskets have been measured at .043 crushed on a couple of occasions. I haven't seen them over .045 and that could have been that someone re-used head bolts 
. I think the mls gaskets are thinner than the graphite ones. Be advised though if you use the tri-metal gaskets that they will not work with some ls1 applications. You need to make sure.
. I think the mls gaskets are thinner than the graphite ones. Be advised though if you use the tri-metal gaskets that they will not work with some ls1 applications. You need to make sure. 
06-21-2004, 10:03 PM
#13
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (47)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Pace, FL
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Originally Posted by MyLS1Hauls
The MLS gaskets cannot be used with older 98-00 heads if they have the mold release groove on the deck. If they are used, they will leak coolant.
06-22-2004, 08:53 PM
#17
10 Second Club
Thread Starter
iTrader: (47)
Join Date: Nov 2001
Location: Pace, FL
Posts: 1,453
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
From everything I've gathered either is fine as the 6.0 heads are pretty new castings and don't have teh casting notch in them. The MLS seems to be a little thicker and will lower the compression just a little.
