Head gasket question
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Head gasket question
Did some searching on the forum and didn't find a definitive answer.
What would be the optimum head gasket y'all would recommend for 1990 L98 with 97K miles?
Mine are blown and I'm looking for the best combination of durability and optimum thickness and diameter. IOW, not so thick that I have quench issues or potential problems with it blowing because of the bore diameter being large to point of insufficient material between it and some of the bolt holes, etc... (kind of an amalgamation of issues I read in the other threads)
Engine is bone stock and won't be rebuilt at this time. Ideally I could get a top end set including them.
Thanks
What would be the optimum head gasket y'all would recommend for 1990 L98 with 97K miles?
Mine are blown and I'm looking for the best combination of durability and optimum thickness and diameter. IOW, not so thick that I have quench issues or potential problems with it blowing because of the bore diameter being large to point of insufficient material between it and some of the bolt holes, etc... (kind of an amalgamation of issues I read in the other threads)
Engine is bone stock and won't be rebuilt at this time. Ideally I could get a top end set including them.
Thanks
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 2004
Posts: 5,107
Likes: 171
From: Dublin CA
Go for the stock Fel-Pro head gasket. There will always be an issue with head gaskets because the block is cast iron and the heads are aluminum. The different materials expand and contract with heat at different rates and given time....the head gasket will fail. There is also a small hole for water in the back of the block that is very close to the edge of the #8 cylinder. This is often where the gasket will fail.
On a stock engine, you will not gain or lose anything that would register on the dyno by changing gaskets.
On a stock engine, you will not gain or lose anything that would register on the dyno by changing gaskets.
Thread Starter
Instructor
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 140
Likes: 0
Go for the stock Fel-Pro head gasket. There will always be an issue with head gaskets because the block is cast iron and the heads are aluminum. The different materials expand and contract with heat at different rates and given time....the head gasket will fail. There is also a small hole for water in the back of the block that is very close to the edge of the #8 cylinder. This is often where the gasket will fail.
On a stock engine, you will not gain or lose anything that would register on the dyno by changing gaskets.
On a stock engine, you will not gain or lose anything that would register on the dyno by changing gaskets.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 3,751
Likes: 276
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
As long as you change your coolant/corrosion inhibitor regularly, the heads/gaskets should last you a long time. Dissimilar metals lead to galvanic action and electrolysis that eats the heads and results in blown head gaskets.
My 85 cast iron block and cast iron heads had done 170,000 miles when i pulled the engine to fit the new 383. The heads/block and original shim head gaskets looked great still. Now that is 28 years!. the heads were crack tested and cleaned up then put on my 383 short block till i can afford some AFR heads they can easily do another 28 years !!!!!!.
Hint! hot water systems have a long warranty, they have a sacrificial element inside they give a warranty on how long that element lasts before electrolysis and galvanic action will eat the hot water tank.
Now consider your alloy head small block chevy, the radiator and heads are the ''sacrificial elements''. How long they last is how well your coolant and anti corrosion inhibitors are maintained,
that is why it is important to note the vehicle maintenance history.
Conclusion of today's science lesson
My 85 cast iron block and cast iron heads had done 170,000 miles when i pulled the engine to fit the new 383. The heads/block and original shim head gaskets looked great still. Now that is 28 years!. the heads were crack tested and cleaned up then put on my 383 short block till i can afford some AFR heads they can easily do another 28 years !!!!!!.
Hint! hot water systems have a long warranty, they have a sacrificial element inside they give a warranty on how long that element lasts before electrolysis and galvanic action will eat the hot water tank.
Now consider your alloy head small block chevy, the radiator and heads are the ''sacrificial elements''. How long they last is how well your coolant and anti corrosion inhibitors are maintained,
that is why it is important to note the vehicle maintenance history.
Conclusion of today's science lesson
Last edited by gerardvg; Jan 16, 2013 at 06:56 PM. Reason: More info
Max G’s
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 2,751
Likes: 79
From: Monroe OH
NCM Sinkhole Donor
Did some searching on the forum and didn't find a definitive answer.
What would be the optimum head gasket y'all would recommend for 1990 L98 with 97K miles?
Mine are blown and I'm looking for the best combination of durability and optimum thickness and diameter. IOW, not so thick that I have quench issues or potential problems with it blowing because of the bore diameter being large to point of insufficient material between it and some of the bolt holes, etc... (kind of an amalgamation of issues I read in the other threads)
Engine is bone stock and won't be rebuilt at this time. Ideally I could get a top end set including them.
Thanks
What would be the optimum head gasket y'all would recommend for 1990 L98 with 97K miles?
Mine are blown and I'm looking for the best combination of durability and optimum thickness and diameter. IOW, not so thick that I have quench issues or potential problems with it blowing because of the bore diameter being large to point of insufficient material between it and some of the bolt holes, etc... (kind of an amalgamation of issues I read in the other threads)
Engine is bone stock and won't be rebuilt at this time. Ideally I could get a top end set including them.
Thanks
Racer
Joined: Sep 2007
Posts: 375
Likes: 18
From: Lawrenceville Georgia
With this stock engine I would strongly suggest using the GM #12557236. Cost was $45.00 a couple of years ago. Quench issues shouldn't even be in the equation on this.
This is the correct gasket for this engine.
Joel
This is the correct gasket for this engine.
Joel
Advanced
Joined: Feb 2013
Posts: 80
Likes: 0
From: CA
Hello,
I'm a newbie to this. I need some help. I just had my ECT sensor changed. While the mechanic was bleeding the coolant, he notice the coolant fluid had few small boubles in the coolant tank. He stated this is a sign of the head gaskets going bad. Is this true?
Thanks
I'm a newbie to this. I need some help. I just had my ECT sensor changed. While the mechanic was bleeding the coolant, he notice the coolant fluid had few small boubles in the coolant tank. He stated this is a sign of the head gaskets going bad. Is this true?
Thanks
