Well I've been reading on this site for a couple years now trying to understand these gas motors. I've been into duramaxs for a long time but I've come to realize the power these ls motors can hold.

I picked this 02 gmc up off a friend knowing it needed head gaskets. From what I've read and gathered felpro gaskets are the way to go ? Correct me if I'm wrong. Also anything else I should do while I have the heads off ? Should I keep my stock heads or pick some other ones up , if they turn out to be crack? I do plan on putting a turbo on this truck and turn it into a play truck. Anyways here's a couple pics of what this thing looks like.






Cap has to go! I can't even pay anyone to take this thing away though lol.

 

If you plan on boost later I would do the oem ls9 gaskets. They are the best factory gaskets.

 

So these felpros won't hold up good ? I was getting a pretty good deal on a full head gasket kit through my dads work that's why I was leaning towards the felpro .

 

yeah, steer clear of the felpro, unless you don't plan on running to much boost later down the road.

 

The LS9 head gaskets are like $32 for the set from summit. So if you are saving enough money buy the set from your dad's work and upgrade the head gaskets.

Unless you are ultimately going to mega horsepower then the stock heads will make great power especially boosted. As boost comes into play head flow and intake flow become much less important. They will make a difference but significantly less.

Since you are pulling the engine apart you should swap the cam while you are there. All you will have is the cost of the cam on top of your current plans. You should look into lifters and springs that compliment the cam also. The springs may be required depending on the cam you go with.

 

Umm no they aren't.

OP, they are pretty expensive. But worth the money for sure.

 

Chevrolet Performance LS9 Multilayer Head Gasket 12622033

 

Honestly I'm not sure how much boost I want to run, I've been reading a lot of peoples builds and seems like 12 psi is a good mark to be at.

I'll see if they can get the ls9 gaskets, would be nice if they did ! Yah also I've been trying to learn which cam to go with but I'm honestly lost when it comes to cams. Seems like everyone just gets one specd, I guess that would be the way I would go.


Yah I'll look into it more forsure thanks a lot.

Thanks a lot for the link, $100 for to isn't bad at all.

 

Not sure where I remembered the $32 from. I was confident when I posted it. Maybe they used to be $32 each? Maybe I am just completely crazy.

They are tried and proven so no mater the cost if they save you from doing it twice the future cost will be significantly higher! That isn't to say the felpros won't hold but I personally won't risk it .

P.S. maybe $32 2 years ago when I ordered them. Here they are at $47 each from jegs. This is where I bought mine.

 

The MLS Ls1 gaskets are about $35 for the pair, the LS9 gaskets are rather more.

http://www.summitracing.com/parts/nal-12498544