We thought we would post some pictures and a little tech info to help keep everyone informed on what we are seeing here at SDPC. There has been a lot questions concerning head gasket interchangeability, cylinder heads, leaks, and the availability of head gaskets.

<img src="http://www.sdpc2000.com/newimg/ls1/ls1witharrow.JPG" alt=" - " />
1. This first picture is looking at the deck surface of the 1997-1998 LS1 cylinder head (#853 casting) and a 2001-03 6.0L head (#317 casting). If you will notice, the red arrow indicates the recessed area of the casting that is located on the deck surface of the 1997-1998 cylinder heads. This recess would be located directly below the #3 and the #6 cylinder bore when the heads are installed on the engine. To the best of our knowledge, all the 97-98 heads have this recess and it is possible some 99’s may have had the 853 casting with this recess. The 1999-03 LS1’s have casting number 241 and the deck surface is identical to the 6.0L in the photograph – no recess on the deck.

<img src="http://www.sdpc2000.com/newimg/ls1/gasksidebyside.JPG" alt=" - " />
2. The second picture shows the two head gaskets for the 1997-01 and the 2002-03 LS1 and LS6. The 97-01 gasket is a composition style with Teflon sealing that actually has a driver’s and passenger’s side, two distinct part numbers. These gaskets have a different Teflon imprint on the block and cylinder head sides! This gasket has a compressed thickness of approximately 0.056”.
The 02-03 gasket is a steel shim design that also has Teflon sealing material added to the surface. This gasket has a compressed thickness of approximately 0.060”. These gaskets are identical on both sides of the gasket, therefore one part number fits both the passenger and driver’s side. The Teflon imprint is identical on both sides!

<img src="http://www.sdpc2000.com/newimg/ls1/GaskCloseup-1.JPG" alt=" - " />
<img src="http://www.sdpc2000.com/newimg/ls1/GaskCloseup-2.JPG" alt=" - " />
If you will notice as indicated by the red arrow on the steel shim head gasket, that the Teflon imprint is located directly in the contact path of the recess that is positioned on the 1997-98 LS1 cylinder heads. This Teflon imprint makes-up approximately 0.005” to 0.006” of the compressed thickness of the gasket. When you use this gasket on the 97-98 cylinder head with the recess, there is nothing to seal the Teflon imprint in this area. Water can leak from the adjacent small water passages located just above the head bolt holes on this cylinder.

Hope this information helps!
FYI – GM has just released (at our request, which was partly taken from the discussions on this forum) new part numbers for gasket and head bolt kits. The head gasket kit part numbers include two head gaskets for one engine job. These numbers should be in stock in the next 30-days or less. We will make a post as soon as we have received them.

Part Number Application SDPC Price
12498543 1997-01 H/Gskts $34.15
12498544 2002-03 H/Gskts $24.25
12498545 H/bolt Kit (for one head) $16.95 (two required for one engine)

<small>[ August 02, 2002, 12:57 PM: Message edited by: parts@sdpc ]</small>

 

My apologies for the messed up links, but I could not get the pictures to display so I just tried to link them, but that obviously didn't work either. I'm confused. Help?
Thanks.

 

No problem.. Keep us posted.

 

Edit: Pics work now so I'll take mine off for now <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

<small>[ August 02, 2002, 06:34 PM: Message edited by: -Joseph- ]</small>

 

Nice pics...

 

Hey Joseph, thanks for posting those pictures for me!

 

POSTED BY SDPC:
12498545 H/bolt Kit (for one head) $16.95 (two required for one engine)

That is a great price! Thats $33.90 for a set!
_______________________________________________

Now, pricing these bolts individually (from a non-sponsor), here is what I came up with. This is all the head bolts required for both heads:

Head bolt (M-11 long), P/N 12560744, $3.13 ea (need 16), $50.08 total

Head bolt (M-11 short), P/N 12560745, $.97 ea (need 04), $3.88 total

Head bolt (M-8), P/N 12558840, $.97 ea (need 10), $9.70 total

Thats $63.66
_______________________________________________

Don't take a Rocket Scientist to figure out that this SDPC head bolt package is the best deal in town!

Ron, <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />
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<small>[ August 02, 2002, 04:08 AM: Message edited by: Kimchee and Rice ]</small>

 

And to think some people didn't want to believe him. ---> https://ls1tech.com/ubb/ultimatebb.p...c;f=1;t=004358

 

Ohh and one more thing you guys might want to check into. That guy has a 99 30th T/A and it had the old style heads on it. Maybe they had the recessed style through mid year 99?

 

Excellent info and thanks for providing the impetus for the bolt/gasket kits.

I will think of SDPC first for my GM parts needs <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" /> <img border="0" alt="[cheers]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_cheers.gif" />

 

If I were to install 01' 6.0L heads on a 5.7L block, would the Telfon gaskets work or would I need to get a set of gaskets for a 6.0L truck??

Thanks
Scott

 

Scott,

If the head has a recessed area, then you have to use the composition type gasket, the steel shim gasket will not work. But if it doesn't have a recessed area, than either of the gaskets will work. Hope this helps ya!

 

I might have an issue ... how can I find out if they will leak, pressure up the system or can I just fill it up with water and it'll pour right out?

 

stephen, (java).
i am having this problem with a car right now.
with the new style shim gaskets on a 6.0 block, torqued, with a 98 style head, the water will drip onto the header tube.

does not bur it, nor does it enter into the short block.(oil).

both heads do it and i hope to get a set of these gaskets from them to fix the problem. i will try to keep you posted.

steve frank

 

<img border="0" alt="[boring]" title="" src="graemlins/gr_zzz.gif" /> Steve call me....

<small>[ November 14, 2002, 10:23 PM: Message edited by: BADZ ]</small>

 

Thanks for posting this info!

(my order has been placed w/ Scoggins-Dickey)

<img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

This is a wealth of info....

Back to the top for anyone interested

 

So Im new at this , exactly what gaskets & Bolts will i need to install stock 02 ls6 Heads on a 99 SS? I'm trying to learn here, Thanks Cecil

 

Talk about a picture being worth a thousand words....Great info! <img border="0" title="" alt="[Big Grin]" src="gr_grin.gif" />

 

....Except your LS1 casting numbers don't agree with mine.

Maybe it's not real pertinent to the importance of the post, but I show 98 heads being casting # 806.
All 99-00 LS1 heads being #853,
and 01 and up LS1 being #241.

That may not be all inclusive, but all of the engines I have in stock agree with these numbers.