Fresh_Mutz

Good Afternoon,

I have a 2000 Silverado with an LM7 and 862 with about 195K miles. I am collecting parts to do a mild cam upgrade, along with some "while you're in there" stuff. I'll be doing the following:

BTR Stage 2 Truck Cam, springs, valve seals, trunnion upgrade, oil pump, timing set. I am also going to be knocking out lifters.

BTR has been wonderfully helpful with quoting me items that are best fit for my specific needs/build. Just wanted to get your opinion on these particular head gaskets. Specifically, BTR LS9 HEAD GASKETS - 7 LAYER - SKU - BTR22033-2 (https://briantooleyracing.com/btr-ls...tr22033-2.html)

Head gasket specificities are a bit beyond my knowledge limit. Would these "LS9" gaskets be perfectly fine for my LM7 with unmilled 862s? The listing states "These gaskets feature a 4.100" bore and a .055" thickness spread across 7 layers of steel. These can be used in place of GM part # 12622033." I do not necessarily plan on boosting. This is meant to be just a nice cruiser truck (everything between Cars and Coffee and the lumber yard). I was expecting gaskets that would just be more or less a clear replacement of the stock LM7 ones.

Very much appreciate any of your insights.

Respectfully,


Matt

01silvy

Those gaskets will be plenty fine. They have kinda become the standard unless you go with a cheaper alternative or get into the more boutique gaskets which offer different compressed thicknesses or alternative materials. If they were recommended for your setup then that’s what i would run. As long as both surfaces are prepped and cleaned right you will have no issues with those head gaskets.

Fresh_Mutz

Thanks! Guess I got myself a little nervous about potential compression changes. And if using 7.4 push rods would work still. I also do not know if my heads are “notched” or not. But if these gaskets can be applied to notched and un-notched heads, then that solves that portion at least.

shakenfake

LS9 head gaskets on a 5.3 are some massive bore gaskets. Just get factory MLS. Plus they are cheaper.

Jeff71

I think it's weird that they would recommend the ls9 when they stock the lm7 replacements. Only problem with them is they don't work with the early notched heads and you state you don't know if your heads are notched or not. I don't know for a fact but willing to bet, the ls9 mls won't work with the notched heads either.

Mahle offers an mls that works with the early and late heads, info here: https://www.mahle-aftermarket.com/me...ss-ga-g-24.pdf

Summit shows to stock several of the mahle part numbers that I looked up.

shakenfake

I agree with Jeff. I really can't fathom why they would suggest that...

strutaeng

I used the Fel-Pro 26192PT recently on my lq4 rebuild. I believe they were like $35 each through RockAuto.

They are currently on close out for $25, but only show 1 in stock. 😭

Fresh_Mutz

Now I’m not a notch expert, but jammed my phone down there and looks like there is no notch!

From what you all are saying, seems like these are a more direct fit for my purposes?

https://briantooleyracing.com/btr-he...-btr98544.html

Jeff71

Fresh, I have no idea if the notch can be seen with the head bolted down or not so, no help to you there.

The gaskets in the link you posted would be my choice if the heads are not notched.

shakenfake

Pretty sure that you need the head off to know