I am wondering have any of you done a cam and valve spring install without the gasket kits. I know that many of the gaskets are reusable, but i am not sure if the timing cover and the valve covers are. And if they are do you guys recommend just replacing them.

And what about the bolt for the crank should a new one be out on!

 

Off topic, but what cam are you going with? just wondering cuz I have an 01 5.3 too. How do you like the TCI stall?

 

I'm going to reuse the valve cover gaskets, but replace the rest. And yes, get a new bolt. They are torque to yeild and can only be used once.

 

I did two swaps... reusing everything but the crank bolt the first time... and resusing everything this last one. (crank bolt and all).

All of the gaskets are tin or aluminum, with a molded rubber bead or 0-ring on both sides. I even kinked my water pump one at a 45* angle (don't ask), and I was able to salvage it. It's still in there.

 

I reused all the gaskets on my first cam @ ~80K miles. The waterpump gaskets were the only ones that were questionable but didnt give me any problems afterwards. On the second swap, I opted to change them all since I had just over 100K on the truck and didnt want to chance it again.

 

I've only changed the waterpump gasket. Everything else, including the crank bolt is straight from the factory.

 

I changed the easier gaskets i.e. water pump, timing cover, and oil pump O ring. Other than that they all looked good so I didnt mess with it and have had no probs.