I just bought a pair of Stage 2 ported 5.3 heads off a friend and was wondering which head gaskets to use? Do I just buy a pair of LS1/LS6 head gaskets? If so, do I use the 97-01 head gaskets or the 2002 and newer head gaskets? Also do the 5.3 heads use the same head bolts as LS1 heads or do I need different bolts?

 

hm... where do your pistons reside in relation to the block deck? if you are on a stock 346, I would say cometic 0.045 would work good for for head gaskets.

The head bolts are the same, but you cannot reuse them unless you upgraded to ARP's...

 

Its a stock block but I honed the cyclinders for the JE Pistons which are for a 3.905 bore.

 

I'm in a similar situation. I'm going to decide on gaskets after I measure it all up, check P to V and go for .038" quench without shoving my valves into the pistons.