Question About LS1 Heads
Question About LS1 Heads So I made a little shifting error the other day and managed to bend a very valves so I need new heads. I'm not looking to upgrade heads right not I just need to get my car back on the road. My car is a 99 C5, so my question are all LS1 heads the same? It is my understanding that all LS1 heads are 241 castings, is this true? If not will any LS1 casting work on my car? I read JRP's sticky on differences between 98-02 cars and it said the 98 cars have different head castings that have perimeter bolts and valve covers but in 99 they switched to valve covers and heads with center bolts. Does this mean I can't use the heads off of a 98 or 97 ls1 car (im counting c5s as well)? Thanks for your responses, I tried a seach but it didn't help me much.
99-00 LS1 had 853 heads, 00-04 ls1 241 heads, you could probably find a set of 853's or 241's on here for cheap, stay away from 97-98 heads they don't flow as well as the later heads and you would have to switch valve covers and coil pack brackets, they aren't worth the hassle!
Teching In
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 6
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From: Lone Star State
You can use heads off of a 97 or 98 car but you'll have to get the valve covers from those heads (perimeter bolt). That being said, if you used those particular heads they would be a step back in performance. Just find a set of used heads like what are on your car or if you want to upgrade in performance check out the PRC ported heads...
I checked my heads and I do have an 853 casting. So the next question is what are the casting number(s) for 98 and 97 cars (so I know what to stay away from)? Also when I put in whatever heads I get (looking for 241s), can I re use my orginal head gaskets and head bolts or will I need to get new ones? I ask this not because I think my original gaskets and bolts won't work with 241 heads but because I was told by a GM tech that the gaskets/bolts should never be re used.
