2004 Tahoe, 5.3l 243 head swap
02-22-2018, 11:54 AM
#12
I don't like those types of products as they can introduce other problems with the cooling system. Also its a 50/50 shot of working.
I would replace the heads if it were me. It would also be a good time to go through the cooling system while its apart.
I would replace the heads if it were me. It would also be a good time to go through the cooling system while its apart.
02-22-2018, 12:10 PM
#13
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Ok so I would need to have these heads decked .030, and just get a regular gasket set for the vortec 5.3. bolts etc..
im considering doing the lifters given the milage
im considering doing the lifters given the milage
02-22-2018, 12:34 PM
#14
12498544 this is supposed to be the part number for 2 gaskets. Just under $40 for the pair.
Everything else would be standard. The push rods might need to be shorter but you would have to measure the preload with everything torqued up.
02-22-2018, 01:02 PM
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Ok great. Well that's good information. I'm starting to wonder if it's worth all the trouble. I was definitely hoping for a drop and go but looks like it's more complex than that
02-22-2018, 01:46 PM
#18
The head test is interesting but the drop in compression by them not milling the heads all to the same chamber size makes it sort of irrelevant. Get the compression equal across all the test heads and run it again.... might be surprising again. And honestly bump the compression ratio too to see what happens. It's not like GM slapped 243's on dished piston 5.3's and ran around with a big cam that pulls to close to 7000 rpm and 9:1 or less.... combo mismatch alert. Make the engine even GM's nominal 9.9:1 or just 10:1 even and go from there.
Last edited by 1994Vmax; 02-22-2018 at 02:14 PM.
02-22-2018, 08:57 PM
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The head test is interesting but the drop in compression by them not milling the heads all to the same chamber size makes it sort of irrelevant. Get the compression equal across all the test heads and run it again.... might be surprising again. And honestly bump the compression ratio too to see what happens. It's not like GM slapped 243's on dished piston 5.3's and ran around with a big cam that pulls to close to 7000 rpm and 9:1 or less.... combo mismatch alert. Make the engine even GM's nominal 9.9:1 or just 10:1 even and go from there.
