Jax White TA

So if we have that notch, we cant use the newer gaskets? But if not, we can use them?

Looks like I have the notch:
http://www.jaxracing.com/lswon/teardown/Mar23_06.JPG

<small>[ April 09, 2002, 08:15 AM: Message edited by: Jax White TA ]</small>

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

Help me out here, if the heads are on the car, where would the NOTCH be on the driver's side head? In the rear by #7?

SJH

My crank snout looks just like yours from it spinning with the Vortech at 10psi, 2 grooves in it. <img border="0" title="" alt="[Sad]" src="gr_sad.gif" />
I cut it for a keyway and it's fully keyed now to the ATI damper. I even firmly soldered the key into the crank to make it as rigid as possible.

My heads have that notch also.I almost went with the MLS gaskets But I found some graphites locally in stock. Never had a problem with a head gasket after tons of Nitrous use and later 10psi boost. Managed to break a piston before hurting a gasket.
IMO the graphite gaskets are pretty stout and seal very well.

AzzHauler

iTrader: (3)

PSJ: It's under cylinders 3 and 4. If you look at jax's pic and 'imagine' picking the right side up and bringing it to the left, flipping the head 180*, you'll see exactly where.

AzzHauler

iTrader: (3)

Oh my bad, I see it's not 3&4 now, but wouldn't it be either 3&6 or 4&5, since it's 2nd from the front on one side and 2nd from the back on the other? And the driver's side is odd cylinders while the passenger side is even? Or are they designated 1-4 on one side and 5-8 on the other?

<small>[ April 09, 2002, 10:32 PM: Message edited by: AzzHauler ]</small>

Pro Stock John

iTrader: (34)

I had a recurring problem with blowing the driver's side head gasket last year with my old Westech 346ci motor... Just curious.

BlueWheels

1,3,5,7 on Drivers side, one being front of car. 2,4,6,8 on Passenger side, 8 at firewall. I have a 99 TA and used the 02 gaskets with no problems.

30thta436

iTrader: (10)

The notch is under the #4 cylinder on passenger side and under the #7 cylinder on drivers side.
I have 4 sets of heads. All 4 sets have notches. Three sets are from 99's. one is from a 2000.
I had parts check the part #'s. They show the same head from 99-02. But the new gasket for only 02. He called GM engineering. They said they have not changed the heads since 99. We had a new head in stock for a 99-02. We opened it. It did not have the notch. So I guess sometime in 2000 is when they changed it. So I guess if you don't have hte notch you can use the gaskets. I'm going to have the notch filled by a machine shop and use the new head gaskets.

Jax White TA

I have stuck an arrow on my head pic pointing to the notches. The bottom head came off the passenger side.

<img src="http://www.jaxracing.com/lswon/notch.jpg" alt="" />

AzzHauler

iTrader: (3)

Some I think that'd be 3&6 right?

30thta436

iTrader: (10)

Your right thats 3 & 6

Speed Demon

iTrader: (14)

Do the 6.0L heads have this notch?

y2khawk

iTrader: (5)

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by Speed Demon:
<strong>Do the 6.0L heads have this notch?</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">mine don't <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

RacerX

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Originally posted by 30thta436:
<strong>

Installed hardened rod bearings.</strong></font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">Where do you get hardend rod bearings from? <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

30thta436

iTrader: (10)

Clevite makes them. They call them performance bearings.

Swills00Z

iTrader: (1)

Great info! Thank you for posting.

Red2000SS

<small>[ July 31, 2002, 01:07 AM: Message edited by: Red2000SS ]</small>

DriveATransAm

i dont see that notch on my 01s. i did have them milled though <img border="0" title="" alt="[Smile]" src="gr_stretch.gif" />

DERTY

On my 02 the heads that came off did not have that notch and the new heads that went on it also did not have the notch. Here's a picture of both.

<img src="http://www.sigma-epsilon.org/steve/images/performance/headcam/day3/MVC-135S.JPG" alt=" - " />

Wierd....

30thta436

iTrader: (10)

I have looked at a lot of heads. I have determined that the notch is present on 98 to mid year 2000. 2000 to 2002 don't have the notch. every 98-99 head I have looked at has had the notches. Every 01-02 head has not had the notches. I have seen 2000's with and without notches. So I believe sometime in 2000 model year they eliminated the notches. GM denies the existance of the notches(even when faxed a picture of it). Hope that answers some of the questions.