Answer on headgasket part number fiasco within
Answer on headgasket part number fiasco within Well, after some research I seem to have figured out whats going on with the headgasket/bolt kits.
First, you CANNOT get just headgaskets anymore. If you are lucky enough to find some in circulation good, but GMSPO is no longer in stock...Therefore once the supply from the dealers and sponsors runs out thats it.
They are only selling the gaskets old and new style in kits with all kinds of gaskets and bolts. The kits list for about $160 (what the dealer pays). My local dealer wanted $300 for the kit!!!
This first part number is for 97-00 cars. It uses the old lead style gasket. Its 88894342.
This part number is for 01-02 cars and uses the newer mulilayer gaskets. Its 88894343.
I'm sure either one will work fine any year. GM is probably just wanting to use up stock on their older gaskets on the older models. Saw the same thing with the slaves a while back. Well just wanted to let you know what I found out. BTW, this info came straight from GMSPO.
Brad
First, you CANNOT get just headgaskets anymore. If you are lucky enough to find some in circulation good, but GMSPO is no longer in stock...Therefore once the supply from the dealers and sponsors runs out thats it.
They are only selling the gaskets old and new style in kits with all kinds of gaskets and bolts. The kits list for about $160 (what the dealer pays). My local dealer wanted $300 for the kit!!!
This first part number is for 97-00 cars. It uses the old lead style gasket. Its 88894342.
This part number is for 01-02 cars and uses the newer mulilayer gaskets. Its 88894343.
I'm sure either one will work fine any year. GM is probably just wanting to use up stock on their older gaskets on the older models. Saw the same thing with the slaves a while back. Well just wanted to let you know what I found out. BTW, this info came straight from GMSPO.
Brad
Re: Answer on headgasket part number fiasco within </font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by MyLS1Hauls:
<strong>I'm sure either one will work fine any year. GM is probably just wanting to use up stock on their older gaskets on the older models. Brad</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wrong!!!!!
I just found out the hard way. Had the engine out after several problems(blown head gaskets,crank pulley spinning,broken piston ring lands, and rod bearings being beat up) I pulled the engine and completely disassembled. Had a keyway cut in the crank. Installed new main bearings. Installed hardened rod bearings. Installed Kaytech stronger rod bolts. Installed ARP head studs and used the new multilayer head gaskets. reassembled the engine and reinstalled in the car. Once every thing was hooked up, filled up the cooling system. After about a minute I started seeing drips of coolant on the ground. There was coolant coming from both heads. Installed cooling system pressure tester. Pressurized the system and found both head gaskets leaking. Removed the engine again. Removed the heads. Found the heads have a notch cut in them on the lower edge towards the front of the head. The new head gaskets don't seal that area so coolant just has a free path to come out. It was leaking coolant and I didn't even start the car yet..
I would assume the 2002 heads don't have that notch.
So beware of using those gaskets on anything other than an 02.
I'm going to send my heads to a machine shop and see if they can build up the alluminum in those notches so I can use those gaskets. I'll let you know the outcome.
<strong>I'm sure either one will work fine any year. GM is probably just wanting to use up stock on their older gaskets on the older models. Brad</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Wrong!!!!!
I just found out the hard way. Had the engine out after several problems(blown head gaskets,crank pulley spinning,broken piston ring lands, and rod bearings being beat up) I pulled the engine and completely disassembled. Had a keyway cut in the crank. Installed new main bearings. Installed hardened rod bearings. Installed Kaytech stronger rod bolts. Installed ARP head studs and used the new multilayer head gaskets. reassembled the engine and reinstalled in the car. Once every thing was hooked up, filled up the cooling system. After about a minute I started seeing drips of coolant on the ground. There was coolant coming from both heads. Installed cooling system pressure tester. Pressurized the system and found both head gaskets leaking. Removed the engine again. Removed the heads. Found the heads have a notch cut in them on the lower edge towards the front of the head. The new head gaskets don't seal that area so coolant just has a free path to come out. It was leaking coolant and I didn't even start the car yet..
I would assume the 2002 heads don't have that notch.
So beware of using those gaskets on anything other than an 02.
I'm going to send my heads to a machine shop and see if they can build up the alluminum in those notches so I can use those gaskets. I'll let you know the outcome.
