ls1 vs ls6 head bolts. What's the difference?
 

First off I'll explain the situation...I have a 98 ls1 engine in my 91 camaro. Recently came upon '04 ls6 243 heads, cam, ls6 intake to put on my engine. So I replaced the stock heads with the 243's this winter. I brain farted and only ordered one set of 04 head bolts for the engine. I had to run to the local shop and get some normal ls1 head bolts for the driver's side. Now i've heard that '04 and up lsx heads use different or special bolts on the install. Can anyone clarify this for me? and if it's true, what's the difference between the 98-03 headbolts and the '04+ headbolts?

The older blocks use all long bolts, new ones have some shorter ones instead of all of them being long.

Is that the only difference? The tourque specs are the same as the older heads?

I believe the shorter ones use a different degree turn for the torque to yield bolts, so I assume that the shorter ones use a different torque amount too.

Yeha, just the shorter ones... I think those are the only bolts you can get now.

So if I put the 04 ls6 heads onto the 98 ls1 block..does it make a difference what head bolts I use?

Use the older style bolts for the 98 block.

Ok. Thanks for the help guys!

Nope. The old blocks used 16 long and 4 short. The new blocks use all short ones.