hooker sent me header gaskets but i was told not to use them...should i re-use my stock gaskets or should i buy oem replacements...or should i use something else...

 

If your OEM MLS gaskets look good you can reuse them. If not throw $20 at Mr. Goodwrench and get some new ones (I did). Reuse your OEM bolts too and trash those short things Hooker gives you. Their o2 extensions work ok.....

 

why not use hookers' bolts ? will it hurt to reuse the stock bolts...

 

No it will not hurt to re-use the stock bolts at all. I prefer them over the bolts that come with the headers that I have seen.

And as already stated, if your stock gaskets look good, you can re-use them, or if you'd prefer, get some new GM ones.

 

what about the 20$ mr.gasket crushable ones ? would that work also

 

I honestly do not have any experience with the mr. gasket units, nor have I even saw them to judge their construction quality. All I can tell you is myself along with most any knowledgeable LSx gear head will recommend the GM ones. In the end it's your car.

 

I've also reused the stock gaskets and bolts

 

i will be using mr gasket soft metal ones just because i have them sitting im my garage that my brother did not use. other then that i would just stick with originals... havent had any problems with my shorties.

 

The install I helped on the Hooker LT's the bolts supplied were shorter and since the GM bolts are not TTY I wanted more thread holding those suckers on. The GM gaskets are MLS and about as good as it gets so we trashed the hooker paper ones and reused the old ones. The o2 extensions were fine and IIRC we just ziptied the ds up cause they were a little long. I think the ps fit as is but we were heavy into the heiniken by this point so I really don't recall that detail.

On my car I did install new GM gaskets. It wasn't really necessary but I had them laying around so WTH...