C4 Tech/Performance L98 Corvette and LT1 Corvette Technical Info, Internal Engine, External Engine

Proper head gasket

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Old May 1, 2016 | 10:54 PM
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Default Proper head gasket

1989 with alum heads
Seems most use fel pro number 1010
FSM calls for .021 thickness
Don't know thickness of 1010
Anyone have better suggestion?
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Old May 2, 2016 | 07:56 AM
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.021 seems thin to me as the cp ratio might be a bit high with the 58cc chambers. I was thinking of using .040 squash rate. Glad you posted this as I am a bit ignorant concerning this.
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Old May 2, 2016 | 05:02 PM
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Originally Posted by ghoastrider1
.021 seems thin to me as the cp ratio might be a bit high with the 58cc chambers. I was thinking of using .040 squash rate. Glad you posted this as I am a bit ignorant concerning this.


I take that back, it's not the FSM that gives .021 as the right spec, but rather a web site when you search for 1989 corvette specs
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Old May 2, 2016 | 10:17 PM
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The more I read the more Confusing. Looks like felpro 1010 is .039 thick. I need .021 for stock replacement. Can't seem to find them on line. I haven't tried Chev dealer yet.

Will the stock part number be on the gasket I take off of car? With only 50000 miles , I'm pretty sure they have never been changed out

Last edited by mlm0; May 2, 2016 at 10:20 PM.
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Old May 2, 2016 | 11:13 PM
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no i doubt it. but just go wth the .21. i agonized over mine on the 85 which was .15 stock thickness. i put a .39 on and called it a day because it came in the kit from rock auto which was very affordable. i doubt ill notice a change. are you machining the heads a bit? i removed .003 so i was like meh. u will lose a minutae amount of compression!

Last edited by VikingTrad3r; May 2, 2016 at 11:14 PM.
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Old May 2, 2016 | 11:47 PM
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Originally Posted by VikingTrad3r
no i doubt it. but just go wth the .21. i agonized over mine on the 85 which was .15 stock thickness. i put a .39 on and called it a day because it came in the kit from rock auto which was very affordable. i doubt ill notice a change. are you machining the heads a bit? i removed .003 so i was like meh. u will lose a minutae amount of compression!

I would like to use .021, but having trouble finding it. Won't know if I need heads milled until I get them out. If I do, then I could go with thicker gasket
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Old May 4, 2016 | 11:42 AM
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Anyone else have thoughts on proper gasket to use?
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Old May 4, 2016 | 12:31 PM
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Originally Posted by mlm0
Anyone else have thoughts on proper gasket to use?

pretty sure u were right with the 1010. when i researched it, it was :



aluminum heads, go with the Fel-Pro 1010
cast iron, the Fel-Pro 1003

personally, i went with the ones on the felpro engine gasket kit. i was doing an 85, iron head. i used hylomar around all the cooling jacket holes.
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Old May 4, 2016 | 02:11 PM
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Victor Reinz @ .028

Cometic @ .027
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Old May 5, 2016 | 07:38 AM
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Originally Posted by mlm0
1989 with alum heads
Seems most use fel pro number 1010
FSM calls for .021 thickness
Don't know thickness of 1010
Anyone have better suggestion?
OEM from your GM dealer.

some of the fel pro's (eapecially their 'blue ringed' performance series) dont always have ports / passageways sized right or on -center.

a perfect example is the lt1 intake manifold gaskets from fel pro. their performance series (i cant remember what they call it, i just remember it has blue lines), doesnt fit it right. holes arent always perfrctly aligned.

IMHO a fel pro is not an upgrade vs stock gaskets.

i made a point to get factory oem (composite i think it was called???) when i put new afr heads on my supercharged 93 vert.

i was also told the stock gasket is more 'forgiving' if the surface isnt well prep'd, especislly vs, the cometic....
that said its not an excuse to not do a good prep jobp

Last edited by dizwiz24; May 5, 2016 at 07:40 AM.
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Old May 5, 2016 | 12:54 PM
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Today, I just ordered oem gaskets from chev dealer. They weren't even able to tell me what thickness the gaskets I will be receiving are. I guess I get what I get. Thanks to all for input

Mike
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Old May 5, 2016 | 02:02 PM
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Originally Posted by mlm0
Today, I just ordered oem gaskets from chev dealer. They weren't even able to tell me what thickness the gaskets I will be receiving are. I guess I get what I get. Thanks to all for input

Mike
You ordered and paid for what part #?

Last edited by WVZR-1; May 5, 2016 at 02:03 PM.
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Old May 5, 2016 | 02:45 PM
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Won't know part number until tomorrow when I pick them up. Total was 85.00 for two
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Old May 6, 2016 | 07:19 PM
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Originally Posted by WVZR-1
You ordered and paid for what part #?


Got gaskets today from GM dealer. Said he got part numbers right out of corvette parts book.

#12557236
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Old May 7, 2016 | 09:34 AM
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Originally Posted by mlm0
Got gaskets today from GM dealer. Said he got part numbers right out of corvette parts book.

#12557236
you made a good choice
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Old May 7, 2016 | 03:09 PM
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Ok after seeing that one is .051 compressed thickness I dug out the GM 10105117 gaskets I got for a stock bore(only stock 4.000 bore) I think alum heads, I'll let you google that. Most felpro or that gm thicker gaskets are compensating for decking the block or milling the heads.
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Old May 7, 2016 | 05:11 PM
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Great, now I'm really confused. The last thing I want to do is lose some power due to head gasket thickness. Specs say .021, GM sells me .051. Lot of difference. The only work I will have done on heads is milling if they don't check out level
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Old May 7, 2016 | 05:25 PM
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Originally Posted by mlm0
Great, now I'm really confused. The last thing I want to do is lose some power due to head gasket thickness. Specs say .021, GM sells me .051. Lot of difference. The only work I will have done on heads is milling if they don't check out level
I believe for your plan you've purchased appropriately. There's much that can be debated regarding head gasket thickness but the composition of what you've bought would likely be a "preferred" under the situation that you're dealing with. A professional engine build is an entirely different discussion and then the conversation deserves some thought.
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Old May 7, 2016 | 05:59 PM
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If my stock bore is 4.0, shouldn't I stick with gasket that is for that bore and no larger. I didn't think buying s head gasket would be this confusing
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Old May 7, 2016 | 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by mlm0
If my stock bore is 4.0, shouldn't I stick with gasket that is for that bore and no larger. I didn't think buying s head gasket would be this confusing
You've purchased what it was assembled with originally. You'll be fine. Generally when fitting a 4.0 gasket and it's placed on the dowels the bore isn't concentric to the gasket diameter. Even a 4.0 gasket is maybe .050+ to avoid that issue.

Last edited by WVZR-1; May 7, 2016 at 07:03 PM.
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