head/cam gasket set
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul MN
head/cam gasket set
I'm doing a head/cam install this winter (dart pro1s, comp cams xe281hr). Can anyone recommend a good head/cam gasket set? I can buy all the necessary gaskets individually but if someone offers a good kit I'd like to go that route.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I think Skoggin-Dickey has a set like that, check prices though. I also buy a few extra things that may not come with the kit such as seals for the coolant bypass line and block-offs, new o-rings for the power steering lines, new dipstick o-ring and probably a few others I can't think of at the moment.
Do you have you installation procedure worked out?
Do you have you installation procedure worked out?
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul MN
I've done several head/cam swaps on my old muscle car. Never on my vette but I don't anticipate that there will be any huge "gotchas." There are a few "how-to"s that I've found. Like the following link:
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Any suggestions?
As far as time...well I've got all winter so I can take my time. I was planning on starting this weekend but right now its like -3 degrees here and heating my garage (open my kitchen door) will probably cost me too much.
I'm also planning on swaping out the rear end for a 3.42 unit and 3200 or 3600 stall. I'm not sure if I will do the work myself as all I have to my disposal are jacks and jack stands and getting under a 3200 pound object makes me a bit nervous. I've always stacked tires and wood under the frame of the vehicle do if the jack stands did give out I'd be good...still makes me nervous though (I've pushed my luck way too many times when working on my 71 chevelle).
http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=1
Any suggestions?
As far as time...well I've got all winter so I can take my time. I was planning on starting this weekend but right now its like -3 degrees here and heating my garage (open my kitchen door) will probably cost me too much.
I'm also planning on swaping out the rear end for a 3.42 unit and 3200 or 3600 stall. I'm not sure if I will do the work myself as all I have to my disposal are jacks and jack stands and getting under a 3200 pound object makes me a bit nervous. I've always stacked tires and wood under the frame of the vehicle do if the jack stands did give out I'd be good...still makes me nervous though (I've pushed my luck way too many times when working on my 71 chevelle).
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul MN
I may be running nitrous through the motor (as I already have the kit installed). Do you recommend using the stock GM performance gasket with a .056" thinkness or something like the Cometic MLS gasket that comes in a variety of sizes? Holy crap Cometic has like 15 different head gasket part numbers to choose from, which one do you recommend? I have a 98 vette mods will be:
Dart Pro 1 205cc/62cc (not milled)
Comp Cams XE281HR (228/230 571/573 112)
"Caddy" lifters
BBK Shorty Headers
Fast intake
NOS nitrous kit
In addition, since I'm replacing the cylinder heads, which ARP head bolts do I want to go with? It looks like they offer at least a couple of different parts: model year 1997, 1998-2003, 2004. The Heads claim to work on 1997-2004...what gives? With that being said, will any 3.990 bore ls1 gasket work (again they seem to distinguish the 97 from 98-04)?
Dart Pro 1 205cc/62cc (not milled)
Comp Cams XE281HR (228/230 571/573 112)
"Caddy" lifters
BBK Shorty Headers
Fast intake
NOS nitrous kit
In addition, since I'm replacing the cylinder heads, which ARP head bolts do I want to go with? It looks like they offer at least a couple of different parts: model year 1997, 1998-2003, 2004. The Heads claim to work on 1997-2004...what gives? With that being said, will any 3.990 bore ls1 gasket work (again they seem to distinguish the 97 from 98-04)?
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
On that web site, don't follow the procedure for removal and installation of the pulley. Use a socket to push on when removing, make a tool for installing. Don' use a longer bolt.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 415
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Wayne In
Here is a list of the GM gaskets you'll need.I think you can get them all from Gene at GM Partshouse.
12498544 Head Gasket Kit (GM MLS are good gaskets)
12585673 Front cover seal
12559271 Water pump gasket (get 2)
12558573 Exhaust manifold gasket (this is the F body gasket it works better with headers,get2)
If you are removing your oil pump you'll need an O ring,I don't know the p/n for that.RTV works well on the front cover I never use a gasket there.
I would recommend getting the ARP balancer bolt,it's easier to install & is reuseable.It's not a bad idea to spring for an aftermarket balancer while you
have the rack out.Get the head bolts for the year of your motor.I think the different numbers on those are whether they are hex or 12 point head.
Just a suggestion,you may get better bang for your buck if you run an LS6 intake & put the money you save on a set of long tubes.
Good luck with your mods.
12498544 Head Gasket Kit (GM MLS are good gaskets)
12585673 Front cover seal
12559271 Water pump gasket (get 2)
12558573 Exhaust manifold gasket (this is the F body gasket it works better with headers,get2)
If you are removing your oil pump you'll need an O ring,I don't know the p/n for that.RTV works well on the front cover I never use a gasket there.
I would recommend getting the ARP balancer bolt,it's easier to install & is reuseable.It's not a bad idea to spring for an aftermarket balancer while you
have the rack out.Get the head bolts for the year of your motor.I think the different numbers on those are whether they are hex or 12 point head.
Just a suggestion,you may get better bang for your buck if you run an LS6 intake & put the money you save on a set of long tubes.
Good luck with your mods.
Former Vendor
Joined: Feb 2004
Posts: 10,876
Likes: 8
From: Las Vegas NV
St. Jude Donor '06 & '12
Unless you have extreme smog inspection problems where you live, I wouldnt waste your money on shorty headers. The stock manifolds actually flow quite well in relation to shortys. You will most likely find little no no power increase at all.
If you can, go long tubes. If not, use your money on another performance mod. Cause you will waste your cash..
If you can, go long tubes. If not, use your money on another performance mod. Cause you will waste your cash..
Instructor
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 165
Likes: 0
Oh and make sure you have the right pulley puller, it will make you're life much simpler.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Before you buy head gaskets, you need to measure the chamber width on the Darts. When I measured mine, I had to use the 6.0 gaskets, not the 5.7 gaskets as they would have overhung the chamber. Sorry, I should have mentioned this earlier but forgot. 
If you buy Cometics, you can tighten quench with a thinner gasket and run a little more timing.
If you buy Cometics, you can tighten quench with a thinner gasket and run a little more timing.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul MN
Unless you have extreme smog inspection problems where you live, I wouldnt waste your money on shorty headers. The stock manifolds actually flow quite well in relation to shortys. You will most likely find little no no power increase at all.
If you can, go long tubes. If not, use your money on another performance mod. Cause you will waste your cash..
If you can, go long tubes. If not, use your money on another performance mod. Cause you will waste your cash..
They actually claim 10-11 rwhp increase over a stock exhaust manifold...I hope that isn't pure BS. Also I probably wouldn't have gone with them except for I picked a set of BBK ceremic coated headers from a forum member for $200
. In addition, they look a lot better than the stock units and that is what really counts right? 
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul MN
Before you buy head gaskets, you need to measure the chamber width on the Darts. When I measured mine, I had to use the 6.0 gaskets, not the 5.7 gaskets as they would have overhung the chamber. Sorry, I should have mentioned this earlier but forgot.
If you buy Cometics, you can tighten quench with a thinner gasket and run a little more timing.
If you buy Cometics, you can tighten quench with a thinner gasket and run a little more timing.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 933
Likes: 0
From: St. Paul MN
Here is a list of the GM gaskets you'll need.I think you can get them all from Gene at GM Partshouse.
12498544 Head Gasket Kit (GM MLS are good gaskets)
12585673 Front cover seal
12559271 Water pump gasket (get 2)
12558573 Exhaust manifold gasket (this is the F body gasket it works better with headers,get2)
If you are removing your oil pump you'll need an O ring,I don't know the p/n for that.RTV works well on the front cover I never use a gasket there.
I would recommend getting the ARP balancer bolt,it's easier to install & is reuseable.It's not a bad idea to spring for an aftermarket balancer while you
have the rack out.Get the head bolts for the year of your motor.I think the different numbers on those are whether they are hex or 12 point head.
Just a suggestion,you may get better bang for your buck if you run an LS6 intake & put the money you save on a set of long tubes.
Good luck with your mods.
12498544 Head Gasket Kit (GM MLS are good gaskets)
12585673 Front cover seal
12559271 Water pump gasket (get 2)
12558573 Exhaust manifold gasket (this is the F body gasket it works better with headers,get2)
If you are removing your oil pump you'll need an O ring,I don't know the p/n for that.RTV works well on the front cover I never use a gasket there.
I would recommend getting the ARP balancer bolt,it's easier to install & is reuseable.It's not a bad idea to spring for an aftermarket balancer while you
have the rack out.Get the head bolts for the year of your motor.I think the different numbers on those are whether they are hex or 12 point head.
Just a suggestion,you may get better bang for your buck if you run an LS6 intake & put the money you save on a set of long tubes.
Good luck with your mods.
Racer
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 415
Likes: 1
From: Ft. Wayne In
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
I changed my intake gaskets, they were pretty well smashed and had a lot of grit in them. I think you can use the FAST gaskets, they are cheaper but verify this information.
As for the head gasket, I used the GM 6.0 (LS2) MLS gasket. I believe the part number is 12589227 but verify that with Gene Culley or someone.
As for the head gasket, I used the GM 6.0 (LS2) MLS gasket. I believe the part number is 12589227 but verify that with Gene Culley or someone.