LS9 head gaskets..... why....
I'm sure you just misspoke, but to clarify, overall thickness is NOT the same. The added layers do add thickness and can lower compression. Also, having a gasket of a larger diameter than your bore size lowers compression. I do agree that even the simplest of these gaskets do an amazing job, but there is a difference. We just shipped almost 20,000 middle layers for 5.3 gaskets today, so I have some knowledge of what I am talking about.
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Joined: Nov 2003
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From: Norn Iron
I'm sure you just misspoke, but to clarify, overall thickness is NOT the same. The added layers do add thickness and can lower compression. Also, having a gasket of a larger diameter than your bore size lowers compression. I do agree that even the simplest of these gaskets do an amazing job, but there is a difference. We just shipped almost 20,000 middle layers for 5.3 gaskets today, so I have some knowledge of what I am talking about.
Well stock LS1 5 layer and LS9 7 layer are the same overall thickness.
Number of layers does not dictate how thick the overall gasket is, because the individual layers themselves can and are all different thicknesses.
So you could easily have a 3 layer and 7 layer the same overall thickness and some brands can be bought that way.
Could be. I’ve found on alum small bore blocks the LS9 HG fire ring sits outside the cylinder sleeve. Which I’d assume is less than ideal. That said I’ve had issues with Felpros small bore MLS gaskets not sealing as well as an LS9. (3 separate instances) No direct experience with the OEM small bore or LS1 MLS gaskets though.
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Teching In
Joined: Mar 2016
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He's also got a 6.0, not a 5.3 so it's more suited to his setup to use them. Besides that, I've never said the other stock gaskets were as good as LS9 for holding boost. I said that on a smaller bore they hold a good amount without issues and that after level you really need to spring for the properly sized Cometic.
I've plainly explained the gap it leaves between the head and deck of the block and this IS NOT RIGHT. I don't care how many people have done it without known issues, that doesn't make it acceptable to keep recommending it to people who want to do things right. You're cramming air/fuel mixture into that gap under boost and either leaving unburnt air/fuel mixture in the gap after combustion, or you have combustion happening between the head and deck. Either way it shouldn't be considered acceptable. Ideally you want to burn all of your air/fuel mixture and you want to do so in the combustion chamber.
I've said all I can say to try to inform the masses on this subject and giving information is really my only goal here, not to get into an argument. You can take it or leave it, it's just an opinion. I would never put an engine together intended for 20+psi and not put the right head gasket on it for the application and I recommend that you guys consider the same.
Consider your goals, consider the information given, and run whatever you choose with confidence
I've plainly explained the gap it leaves between the head and deck of the block and this IS NOT RIGHT. I don't care how many people have done it without known issues, that doesn't make it acceptable to keep recommending it to people who want to do things right. You're cramming air/fuel mixture into that gap under boost and either leaving unburnt air/fuel mixture in the gap after combustion, or you have combustion happening between the head and deck. Either way it shouldn't be considered acceptable. Ideally you want to burn all of your air/fuel mixture and you want to do so in the combustion chamber.
I've said all I can say to try to inform the masses on this subject and giving information is really my only goal here, not to get into an argument. You can take it or leave it, it's just an opinion. I would never put an engine together intended for 20+psi and not put the right head gasket on it for the application and I recommend that you guys consider the same.
Consider your goals, consider the information given, and run whatever you choose with confidence
