Head gasket question NEED HELP ASAP
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
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From: Forney Texas
Yes. They'll work fine. Put them on dry with no sprays or goo. Clean all surfaces with lacquer thinner or something comparable. Torque to spec with ARP or new factory bolts per the GM torque sequence and specs.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,586
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From: Bardstown Kentucky
I am SOOOOOOO glad these things are going to work ok. I was already thinking about the long night in the garage tomorrow pulling it back apart.Thanks again!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
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From: Forney Texas
Keep in mind that I'm not speaking for the Dart heads. If the combustion chambers and valves are for a 346 bore, you'll be fine. If not, your valves might be hitting your cylinder walls.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Looked up that part number and it is for the LS1/LS6. The Dart chamber is wider than stock so you need the 6.0 LS2 gaskets.
Sorry, but your gasket is likely hanging into the chamber and you should really check. Do you have access to a borescope that would allow you to verify what I am afraid of without pulling it apart again?
Sorry, but your gasket is likely hanging into the chamber and you should really check. Do you have access to a borescope that would allow you to verify what I am afraid of without pulling it apart again?
Last edited by vettenuts; Sep 15, 2008 at 05:41 AM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
Likes: 78
From: Forney Texas
Looked up that part number and it is for the LS1/LS6. The Dart chamber is wider than stock so you need the 6.0 LS2 gaskets.
Sorry, but your gasket is likely hanging into the chamber and you should really check. Do you have access to a borescope that would allow you to verify what I am afraid of without pulling it apart again?
Sorry, but your gasket is likely hanging into the chamber and you should really check. Do you have access to a borescope that would allow you to verify what I am afraid of without pulling it apart again?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 2
From: Bardstown Kentucky
well the engine builder used 5.3l head gaskets on it... thats what came out of it
so I take a borescope and run down into valve? open the valve and check for a part of the gasket hanging over?
so I take a borescope and run down into valve? open the valve and check for a part of the gasket hanging over?
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 2,586
Likes: 2
From: Bardstown Kentucky
I spoke to 2 different people and one said its fine... the other said they recommend the 12498543...
As far as bore size, my engine is 3.905 and my gasket is 3.930 so it seems as if the bore on the head was larger than 3.905 it would kind of be a waste... right?
The only difference I see is the 12498543 is a graphite gasket.
As far as bore size, my engine is 3.905 and my gasket is 3.930 so it seems as if the bore on the head was larger than 3.905 it would kind of be a waste... right?
The only difference I see is the 12498543 is a graphite gasket.
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Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
I don't have my notes, but the combustion chamber is bigger than the bore and if you don't use 6.0 minimum, your gasket will overhang inside the chamber. The scope is only to verify that Dart maintains the same chamber design as mine, but in likelihood they do. From memory, I think they were on the order of 3.97" chamber width.
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jul 2005
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From: Bardstown Kentucky
Well after a lot of thought I have put it together with the 3.93 bore gasket. there is probably .030-.040 gasket exposed in the chamber but I feel better doing it that way then having a 4.039 bore gasket on a 3.905 bore. With the piston being smaller than the chamber I feel like its going to pull the air in a funnel shape anyways. The gaskets that came out of the car were 3.930 as well.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,924
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From: Forney Texas
Well after a lot of thought I have put it together with the 3.93 bore gasket. there is probably .030-.040 gasket exposed in the chamber but I feel better doing it that way then having a 4.039 bore gasket on a 3.905 bore. With the piston being smaller than the chamber I feel like its going to pull the air in a funnel shape anyways. The gaskets that came out of the car were 3.930 as well.
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
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From: At the beach in little Rhody
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Best bet is to pick up a $29 adjustable pushrod and measure. That way you are assured of the correct preload. Check rocker geometry (wipe pattern) first though, otherwise you need to re-measure.