Head bolt confusion
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Teching In
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From: Battle Ground, WA
Head bolt confusion So I picked up a 5.3 pulled from a 2001 k1500 truck with the VIN "T" motor. So I have it all torn down and putting it together I ordered the gen 3 head bolts which are the long bolts with the 2 shorter outer bolts. They looked super long. So I took a dowel and ran it down every bolt hole on the mating surface for the head. They are all the exact same length. I'm confused as to why I have a gen 3 block (checked the casting #) with equal depth bolt holes? Has anyone had this experience as well? And if so, do I follow torque specs for a gen 4 block as far as the head bolts?
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From: Battle Ground, WA
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In 2004 GM went to the two bolt size head bolts. The two bolts first appeared on the LS6. In 2003 and 04 all 5.7 liter motors used the LS6 block, even though The LS1 nomenclature was used to note the standard 350 HP Corvette motor. The 6 was rated at 405 abd had the LS6 heads and cam for extra power.
This all changed with the intro of the LS2 in 05. Interesting to note that these motors have 4th gen rods, although the rods are referred to as 4th gen and not LS6. For instance, the motor in my 04 GTO is referred to as an LS1, but it has an LS6 block, 4th gen rods, and LS6 intake. It does have the 241 LS1 heads and cam. It is the same type of motor as the base Corvette.
GMs greatest mistake was suspending Camaro/Fbody production for 8 years. For two of those years 2003 and 04, it made either these hybrid motors or the LS6 for the Corvette and later for the CTS-V.
This all changed with the intro of the LS2 in 05. Interesting to note that these motors have 4th gen rods, although the rods are referred to as 4th gen and not LS6. For instance, the motor in my 04 GTO is referred to as an LS1, but it has an LS6 block, 4th gen rods, and LS6 intake. It does have the 241 LS1 heads and cam. It is the same type of motor as the base Corvette.
GMs greatest mistake was suspending Camaro/Fbody production for 8 years. For two of those years 2003 and 04, it made either these hybrid motors or the LS6 for the Corvette and later for the CTS-V.
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Teching In
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From: Battle Ground, WA
You'd think the bolt holes for bolts 1-8 would be about 4 inches deeper than holes 9 and 10. But they are all as deep as 9 and 10.
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From: Battle Ground, WA
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From: Battle Ground, WA
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Incorrect. I am looking right at a later Gen 3 block with all 101mm short head bolts. I have both old and new ones right in front of me. Also, from Tick Performance web site; "Gen III LSx engines produced from January 2004 forward have a short style head bolt design, so earlier head bolts WILL NOT fit. Use GM #17800568 for engines produced from January 2004 and later."
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