Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

Head gasket thickness

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Apr 10, 2009 | 06:49 PM
  #1  
firemech21's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Enthusiast
iTrader: (9)
 
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 663
Likes: 1
From: Langley AFB (Hampton VA)
Default Head gasket thickness

I was just talking to a guy who builds race engines about my LS1. He said you could gain up to 20hp by getting thinner head gaskets, does anyone know how thick the stock head gasket is and where you could find thinner ones at?
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2009 | 07:06 PM
  #2  
smask04C5's Avatar
12 Second Club
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2004
Posts: 607
Likes: 1
From: Winter Haven, Fl.
Default

All of the gaskets that I remove and remember to mic, are .052-.054. Cometic makes gaskets thinner than you could run on the street with a stock rotating assembly. Cometic LS-1 head gasket 3.910, with a .040 thickness is a great choice, but no guess as to how much power it would add. Decreased quench and the possibility to add ignition timing increase the output.
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2009 | 10:15 PM
  #3  
zeekracing's Avatar
Launching!
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 223
Likes: 0
From: Arkansas
Default

a thinner head gasket will raise your compression a little bit but you won't hardly notice any gain from it. Maybe a few horesepower but not 20hp.
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2009 | 11:12 PM
  #4  
SOMbitch's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
iTrader: (8)
 
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 6,881
Likes: 3
Default

With the right setup the .040's give better quench and not only increased compression but allows for more timing to be safely run....due to the improved quench...
Reply
Old Apr 10, 2009 | 11:36 PM
  #5  
KCS's Avatar
KCS
Moderator
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (20)
 
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 8,859
Likes: 323
From: Conroe, TX
Default

Don't forget the thinner the gasket, the closer the piston gets to the cylinder head. LSx engines are already ~.007 out of the hole.
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2012 | 09:11 AM
  #6  
bufmatmuslepants's Avatar
12 Second Club
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,280
Likes: 49
From: Hampstead, NC
Default

Bringing this back from the dead, but my friend has a burnt exhaust valve or something causing only 100psi in one cylinder of his 60k mile bone stock 03 vette, we are pulling the heads to look at it. In the LT world where I am from we use the 0.026" mr gaskets to bump compression to 11.1:1 with a stock longblock, is the 0.040 Cometics the best replacement for an LS motor? Or should we go with a stock replacement?
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2012 | 10:54 AM
  #7  
Sales2@Texas-speed's Avatar
LS1Tech Premium Sponsor
iTrader: (5)
 
Joined: Jan 2008
Posts: 5,053
Likes: 7
From: Texas!
Default

Originally Posted by bufmatmuslepants
Bringing this back from the dead, but my friend has a burnt exhaust valve or something causing only 100psi in one cylinder of his 60k mile bone stock 03 vette, we are pulling the heads to look at it. In the LT world where I am from we use the 0.026" mr gaskets to bump compression to 11.1:1 with a stock longblock, is the 0.040 Cometics the best replacement for an LS motor? Or should we go with a stock replacement?
We need to know how far your piston are in or out of the hole to make the call, as well as piston and head volume!
__________________


Largest Stocking Distributor of LS-x Engines / CHECK OUT OUR NEW WEBSITE!

COMP - FAST - PACESETTER - DIAMOND RACING - EAGLE SPECIALTY PRODUCTS - CALLIES - COMETIC GASKETS
RAM CLUTCHES - MOSER ENGINEERING - KOOK'S HEADERS - ARP - GM BOLTS AND GASKETS - MSD - NGK
POWERBOND - ASP - AND MORE!
Reply
Old Oct 8, 2012 | 12:07 PM
  #8  
slt200mph's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
iTrader: (42)
 
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 7,067
Likes: 9
From: HOT'LANA, GAWJA
Default

Do not bother to run skinny head gaskets for a HP gain. Not enough of a change to make any significant increase in HP. If you want real high compression. Mill the heads down to 59cc chamber and run the Cometic .040 gaskets. That will get you the 20 HP bump your looking for.
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-1

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-4

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-5

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
story-6

Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

 Verdad Gallardo
story-8

10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

 
story-9

10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Oct 8, 2012 | 12:34 PM
  #9  
bufmatmuslepants's Avatar
12 Second Club
15 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Liked
iTrader: (3)
 
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 3,280
Likes: 49
From: Hampstead, NC
Default

This is just going to be a "saturday, get it fixed" deal. The motor is dead bone stock, never touched, which makes me curious to think an exhaust valve would be jacked up. He said he has 100psi on that cylinder, and 160 on the rest, and if he puts a paper towel on one tip it will get sucked in a little. Originally was thinking a misfire. If no point to add compression then well will just use the Summit kit for swapping head gaskets, and just do the one head.
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2022 | 06:17 PM
  #10  
Bdh29's Avatar
Teching In
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
Default

.....
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2022 | 06:19 PM
  #11  
Bdh29's Avatar
Teching In
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by slt200mph
Do not bother to run skinny head gaskets for a HP gain. Not enough of a change to make any significant increase in HP. If you want real high compression. Mill the heads down to 59cc chamber and run the Cometic .040 gaskets. That will get you the 20 HP bump your looking for.
I don't know who you are or where you're at, but........YUT KILL!
Reply
Old Oct 1, 2022 | 10:50 PM
  #12  
G Atsma's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,291
Likes: 3,616
From: Central Cal.
Default

Originally Posted by Bdh29
I don't know who you are or where you're at, but........YUT KILL!
So 10 years since the last post in this thread, you put this useless garbage up for all to see, and you even mess up the first of your 2 posts in the process??
Quit wasting your and our time.....
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2022 | 02:48 AM
  #13  
grubinski's Avatar
TECH Enthusiast
15 Year Member
Community Favorite
Top Answer: 1
 
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 643
Likes: 573
From: Carnation, WA
Default

Originally Posted by G Atsma
So 10 years since the last post in this thread, you put this useless garbage up for all to see, and you even mess up the first of your 2 posts in the process??
Quit wasting your and our time.....
Maybe Corona is back. :-)
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2022 | 09:41 AM
  #14  
G Atsma's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,291
Likes: 3,616
From: Central Cal.
Default

Originally Posted by grubinski
Maybe Corona is back. :-)
You never know for sure, but it looks like this genius joined back in 2013.
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2022 | 01:38 PM
  #15  
Che70velle's Avatar
ModSquad
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 7,828
Likes: 5,174
From: Dawsonville Ga.
Default

Originally Posted by grubinski
Maybe Corona is back. :-)
Not yet. And when he does pop back up, he’s gone first post. No more BS around here. MTGA!
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2022 | 03:02 PM
  #16  
LilJayV10's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
15 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (39)
 
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 9,711
Likes: 999
From: Evansville,IN
Default

Originally Posted by grubinski
Maybe Corona is back. :-)
Does that mean he left?

If so I might start reading more threads.
Reply
Old Oct 2, 2022 | 03:46 PM
  #17  
Che70velle's Avatar
ModSquad
10 Year Member
Community Builder
Liked
Loved
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 7,828
Likes: 5,174
From: Dawsonville Ga.
Default

Originally Posted by LilJayV10
Does that mean he left?

If so I might start reading more threads.
He has left the building. Read up! Heck, didn’t take long before some of our sponsors came back in and starting posting again.
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2022 | 03:45 PM
  #18  
Bdh29's Avatar
Teching In
10 Year Member
 
Joined: May 2013
Posts: 15
Likes: 1
Default

Originally Posted by G Atsma
So 10 years since the last post in this thread, you put this useless garbage up for all to see, and you even mess up the first of your 2 posts in the process??
Quit wasting your and our time.....
Phew - for a second there I thought you were going to try to be a tough guy by being a petulant *** to a complete stranger for not understanding his Marine reference, getting phased out at work, and because your wife always smells like someone else's cologne.

That was a close one!
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2022 | 04:03 PM
  #19  
G Atsma's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
5 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
 
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 22,291
Likes: 3,616
From: Central Cal.
Default

Originally Posted by Bdh29
Phew - for a second there I thought you were going to try to be a tough guy by being a petulant *** to a complete stranger for not understanding his Marine reference, getting phased out at work, and because your wife always smells like someone else's cologne.

That was a close one!
Nope. Just don't get into obscure references aimed at those not here for ages....
Reply
Old Oct 3, 2022 | 06:54 PM
  #20  
grinder11's Avatar
TECH Junkie
20 Year Member
Liked
Loved
Community Favorite
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 3,212
Likes: 1,612
From: Michigan & Florida
Default

Originally Posted by Che70velle
He has left the building. Read up! Heck, didn’t take long before some of our sponsors came back in and starting posting again.
Reply



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:56 AM.

story-0
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-1
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-2
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-3
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-4
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-5
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE
story-6
Coachbuilt N2A Anteros Is an LS2-Powered C6 Corvette In Italian Clothes

Slideshow: A one-off sports car that looks like a vintage Italian exotic-but hides a C6 Corvette underneath-just sold for the price of a new mid-engine Corvette.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-23 18:53:41


VIEW MORE
story-7
Awesome K5 Blazer Restomod Comes With C7 Corvette Power

Slideshow: A heavily reworked 1972 K5 Blazer swaps its off-road roots for a low-slung street-focused build with modern V8 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-09 18:08:45


VIEW MORE
story-8
10 Camaros You Should Never Buy

Slideshow: There are thousands of used Camaros on the market but we think you should avoid these 10

By | 2026-02-17 17:09:30


VIEW MORE
story-9
10 LS Engine Myths That Refuse to Die

Slideshows: Which one of these myths do you believe?

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-01-28 18:10:11


VIEW MORE