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I'm in the final stages of building up a replacement 5.3 LS for my 2000 Silverado. For California emissions reasons, I'm going back with a stone stock build :-(
There is a vent pipe that connects vents at the front and back of both heads (pictured). There is a small gasket under each connection.
Does anyone know if these gaskets still available?
Has anyone re-used their old gaskets? Mine have 317,000 miles on them.
Given that the FRONT ports are higher than the rears (that pesky detail, you know, gravity), and that that's therefore where any "steam" that's generated is gonna want to go, why rears only?
Along with, he says he wants to keep it California stock, and the nipple that goes to the throttle body is at the front.
Please help me understand. If there's a good reason on a California stock sort of vehicle, I'd like to know it. Reasons that may or may not apply to track vehicles may or may not apply to California stock type situations of course, and I totally get that.
RB04Av, if you're going to use only 2 vents, I agree on using the front two vents only. In fact, my LS7 heads had the 2 rear vents plugged with that rivet type plug when I bought them, forcing me to use only the front two vents......
The last two L92's I swapped into to a 73 Camaro and my current 80 Camaro project only have the front two cylinder head vents. Never had an issue with over heating.
One thing I do to connect the crossover tube to the radiator is use -3 brake line. You can buy it pre-made to length. I cut off the nipple and drill and tap it for 1/8" NPT. Using -3 AN fittings I attach it the radiator after welding a bung into the radiator.
Pic.
take note....the old style does take the gaskets....the new style takes O rings
‘They all use o-rings, at least all I’ve ever been in, both Gen3 and Gen4. The Dorman aluminum plate gasket seals linked above, work well as replacements for all of them. I keep packs of these in the shop. No need to try and remove the old flattened o-ring, just install the Dorman piece between the head and steam vents and keep going.
Yup I have a bunch of them as well as an extra Steam Tube that goes to all 4 corners of the Heads.
Originally Posted by IGN-1A
I ALWAYS ONLY ran the two REAR "steam" vents
Lance
If you meant to say you PLUG the rears then you might want to edit your post because it makes zero sense until you corrected it after. Or say you run the two FRONTS.
‘They all use o-rings, at least all I’ve ever been in, both Gen3 and Gen4. The Dorman aluminum plate gasket seals linked above, work well as replacements for all of them. I keep packs of these in the shop. No need to try and remove the old flattened o-ring, just install the Dorman piece between the head and steam vents and keep going.
Agreed. I've never seen gasket material gaskets on the steam vents. My 2000 C5 had the aluminum plate with integral O-ring type setup, much like the oil pan gasket, but on a much smaller scale......
Yup, looks like that's what the OP has too. The little plate type gasket with a rubber insert. Just going by the pics of course, butt as always, I could be wrong. (and even mistaken on this particular point, besides just being my usual wRong)
Later 5.3s and whatnot all used only the 2 front ports, and didn't have that big Thing all running around under the intake.
‘They all use o-rings, at least all I’ve ever been in, both Gen3 and Gen4. The Dorman aluminum plate gasket seals linked above, work well as replacements for all of them. I keep packs of these in the shop. No need to try and remove the old flattened o-ring, just install the Dorman piece between the head and steam vents and keep going.
lol.....you mean to say the old style uses a O ring in the gasket....new style uses just a O ring....the new style may take the gasket.....never tried that but may work
lol.....you mean to say the old style uses a O ring in the gasket....new style uses just a O ring....the new style may take the gasket.....never tried that but may work
The type that only use an o ring also have a groove for the o ring. The older type with the metal embossed o ring will be flat as the gasket takes up the spacing and locates the o ring.
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Cylinder Head Vent Gasket 
