im building a 5.3 and i dont know what year it is its got a 24x wheel and i would like to find out what the diff is in the head gaskets cause one sets $24
and another is $56 for the newer models so any ideas why they would be differant? i think mine came out of an 04 it was dbw

 

The early 4.8L/5.3L/5.7L heads with the recess in the deck surface will leak to the outside if you use the wrong head gasket. Watch out for the 862 casting for the 4.8L/5.3L, because it came with and without the recess.

The early engines all had composition head gaskets with an imprint that sealed the area around the recess in the heads. The later MLS gaskets don’t have this imprinted area so they will leak if they’re used with a head that has the recess.

 

thanks for the info on that. just looked at mine theyre 706 castings and they dont have a recess so would i be able to use the earlier gaskets with these heads? sorry im pretty new to the gen 3 engines

 

I believe most would agree that you would be best served using the newer MLS gaskets that your engine was designed to use. It would be a step backwards trying to use composition gaskets. Victor Reinz does make a MLS head gasket that will fit both styles of heads, but really is unnecessary in your case.

For people that may be interested in the hybrid gaskets though, here are the part numbers.

The Application: GM LS series Gen III and IV, 4.8L, 5.3L, 5.7L, 6.0L and 7.0L from 1999 thru 2009 are covered with these four new part numbers:

54441 - GM 4.8L VIN V, 5.3L VIN P, T & Z 1999-2007

54442 - GM 4.8L VIN C 2007-2008, 5.3L All VIN except P, T & Z 2005-2009, 5.7L 1997-2005

54445 - GM 6.0L VIN H, N & U 1999-2008

54446 - GM 7.0L 2006-2008

 

You might also find some of these part numbers helpfull...
https://www.performancetrucks.net/fo...d.php?t=428941

 

sorry bring this back from the dead BUT
Is it possible to mill the heads enuff that the recess is gone and be able to use a regular metal gasket? Any idea how deep the recess is?