does anybody have a hook up on 2002 5.3 gaskets? im going to do a cam swap so i'll need intake, valve cover, timing chain cover and oil pan gaskets. autozone said $40 for the intake and $45 for timing chain cover gasket and i didnt even ask about the other ones. i just dont want to spend more on gaskets than i am on all of the parts for the swap.

 

I'd replace the water pump gasket and timing cover gasket and that's it.
You don't have to take the intake off unless your changing lifters. and valve cover gaskets should still be good, or just use rtv if not.

 

I only changed the water pump gasket and forgot about the timing cover. little rtv to go with it and haven't had any problems.

 

i'd rather not use rtv if possible. im powder coating the valve covers so i might as well replace the gasket while im redoing them and since my truck has almost 141K miles on it i want to replace all of the gaskets i can while i have it torn apart, just to be safe

 

how do you change a cam without taking the intake off? you need to take it off to hold up the lifters to allow the cam to go in, right

 

nope. just use dow rods

 

http://www.ls1howto.com/index.php?article=23

Shave one side and slide them in just like in this pic with the JPR Tool

 

If you're doing a GENIII cam swap, you don't need intake or oil pan gaskets. Check out some of our sponsors, such as SDPC and TSP, they sell cam install gasket kits that come with everything you need.

 

http://texas-speed.com/shop/item.asp?itemid=85

this should do it right? should i get a new balancer bolt too?

 

50 bucks eh?

See what the price is for the timing cover gasket, Valve cover gaskets, and Water pump gaskets.
You can get a new bolt if you want. Wouldn't hurt. Make sure you get ahold of a balancer puller/installer. When we tried to put mine back on it kept getting crooked.