what head gaskets?
Race Director
Joined: Jul 2007
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From: Salt Lake City Utah
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 14,668
Likes: 749
From: NEwhere Ohio
greg@blowerworks told me to use gm stock head gaskets.
He said they are more forgiving (if something got left behind on the deck surface).
The base model felpro's (not the blue-lined felpro 1074's for lt1) worked fine for me for a previous head swap I did 11 years ago.
Dont use the cometic gasket unless you are having the engine removed and the deck prepared especially for that one.
Id hate for you to end up with 'bubbles' in your coolant (from exhaust gases finding a pathway into the coolant jacket).
Finally,
Unless your goals are 800 HP, I wouldnt use head studs. These dont seal the holes as well (the holes go into your water jacket) and there is a tendency for coolant leaks to travel up the threads. Your supposed to use sealer on these, but some guys still have trouble. They also make it extremely difficult to removed the heads w/ the block in the car (so Im told).
ARP head bolts are strong enough.
good luck
He said they are more forgiving (if something got left behind on the deck surface).
The base model felpro's (not the blue-lined felpro 1074's for lt1) worked fine for me for a previous head swap I did 11 years ago.
Dont use the cometic gasket unless you are having the engine removed and the deck prepared especially for that one.
Id hate for you to end up with 'bubbles' in your coolant (from exhaust gases finding a pathway into the coolant jacket).
Finally,
Unless your goals are 800 HP, I wouldnt use head studs. These dont seal the holes as well (the holes go into your water jacket) and there is a tendency for coolant leaks to travel up the threads. Your supposed to use sealer on these, but some guys still have trouble. They also make it extremely difficult to removed the heads w/ the block in the car (so Im told).
ARP head bolts are strong enough.
good luck
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Race Director
Joined: Sep 2001
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From: NEwhere Ohio
Felpro head gaskets are fine (save yourself about $60 and just stick to the base felpro gasket).
However,
I did have issues with felpro's 'performance' line of intake manifold gasket. These are the more expensive 'blue-lined' gaskets.
They simply did not fit my lt1 intake/head as well and left more gasket material protruding into the intake port.
I took em back and put on the cheaper fel-pro 'base model' lt1 intake manifold gasket. Much better luck.
However,
I did have issues with felpro's 'performance' line of intake manifold gasket. These are the more expensive 'blue-lined' gaskets.
They simply did not fit my lt1 intake/head as well and left more gasket material protruding into the intake port.
I took em back and put on the cheaper fel-pro 'base model' lt1 intake manifold gasket. Much better luck.
