I"m going to be installing new heads here within the next week or two... I know that i want to order a OEM thickness gasket, as well as a .040 cometic gasket, using the thinner one if i dont have PtV issues when i check, and returning the other one... However, everytime i go somewhere, these people are saying that i need this whole huge "gasket kit" which includes a bunch of other gaskets along with the head gasket....

I thought that all i needed was the head gasket? is that right? Now i understand that if the other gaskets are bad, they will need replaced, but i don't NEED them do i??

Also, i can use a '02 LS1 head gasket right?? they are probably 1/3 the price of the '98-'01 gasket...
thanks

 

you essentially can just get new head gaskets but it's always a good idea to change whatever other gaskets can be changed at the time, while everything is avalible to work on.... and yes any 5.7L gasket will do

 

I stayed with the Stock Head Gaskets, working good so far.

 

I used a fel-pro MLS - expensive, but appears to work well. I resused wafer pump and intake, ordered stock GM metal exhaust gaskets direct from Pace Performance.

 

when looking at some of these MLS gaskets, there are so many different bore diameters to choose from.... Can someone give me a link to whatever gasket is my best bet please!!
my car is the factory bore with a new set of 5.3 heads going on....

preferrably give me a link to Summit, b/c i already have stuff i'm ordering from summit, but it can be somewhere else as well - maybe i'll get those parts at that somewhere else.

Thanks in advance

 

how about this one?
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...5&autoview=sku

edit: that's only for 1 gasket... i really don't wanna spend 150 on head gaskets

exactly what bore am i looking for? 3.91? 3.90? 3.99?

 

for stock ls1 and ls1 heads I use gm mls gaskets 26 a piece part#1258926 right form gm. I just picked one up today

 

You can se the GM MLS gaskets, either 5.7L or 6.0L, I think the 6.0L gaskets are advertised as a little thinner. My buddy has had good luck with some .043 mr.gasket composite gaskets. All of these options are quite inexpensive.

 

is a 4.0 bore head gasket ok for a stock bore?
i'm thinkin i'm gonna get these, as well as stock, and use the thinner ones if possible...
http://store.summitracing.com/partde...0&autoview=sku

 

no answer?

 

Don't get a graphite gasket.... Get a MLS one...

 

4.0" / 6.0L gaskets are fine on the stock ls1 bore. Patriot used to send out 6.0L gaskets with their heads.

 

A 4.000 bore gasket is NOT a 6.0L gasket.....

I believe a GM 6.0L gaskets is 4.030"....

A 6.0L has a 4.000 bore so using a 4.000 bore gasket is not advised. I run a 4.030" X .045" thick gasket on my LS2....


Anyway back to topic.... LS1 bore is 3.898.... so I deal is about .030" over.... (3.930") 4.000" will work fine but you will lose a small amount of compression...


Hope this helps

 

yup.... thanks guys!

 

EDIT: I got this thread confused with another GM MLS gasket. I hadnt followed his link above otherwise I would have realized he was talking about the Mr. Gaskets.

I had assumed he meant the GM MLS gasket for a 4.000" bore block. GM does not make an MLG gasket with a gasket bore of 4.000. The 5.7L gasket has a diameter of 3.910 and the 6.0L has a diameter of 4.030. Since he was talking about a GM MLS gasket, of which there are only 2 choices, I assume he meant the gasket that fits 4.000 bore motors. Sorry if my reply was misleading.

As far as losing compression with using the 6.0L gasket, If the 5.7L truly is the advertised .060" compressed thickness, then having a .006" thinner gasket will more than make up any loss in compression from the bigger gasket bore. Plus youll have the tighter quench. Now if both the 5.7 and 6.0 gaskets have a real world .054 compressed thickness, then youre right, youll lose a touch of compression, on the order of 0.1 points of SCR.