re-using gaskets?
 

Someone told me that because of the design of the 5.3 4.8 ls1 ect head gaskets and oil valley and front and rear gaskets (metal reinforced) that you could reuse them. im an old school gen 1 small block guy and you almost never reuse head gaskets unless they are copper or cometic gaskets. i have reused valve cover gaskets but that is just a seal.. not a pressure issue. how many people have reused their gaskets and how many times was it not a good idea?

All of the rubber-covered seals are ok to reuse, but head gaskets and bolts are one-time use and should be replaced.

I wouldn't risk it

Same here. If you are really worried about the rubber ones, smear some RTV on them.

Alot of guys re-use their gaskets and never have a problem, but I don't believe in that, except for valve cover gaskets which as you mentioned aren't under pressure and are a snap to replace if there's a problem. I especially don't like the idea of re-using the front crank seal in the timing cover, which has a rapidly spinning crankshaft snout going through it. Water pump gaskets either, the cooling system isn't very forgiving, and the darn things are so cheap that it's silly to re-use them. As thunder mentioned, definitely don't re-use the head gaskets and bolts, as well as the crank bolt which is torque to yield.

I re-use all the gaskets and seals but the head gaskets and like thunder550 said replace all the torque to yield fasteners.

i reused my head gaskets and bolts, even forgot which gasket went where, for a year before one let go, not a big leak but it did let go. now with that said for the past year the motor never did run as strong as i should have. So can you reuse them, yes, will they leak, yes. dont risk it for a 100$