LS5 cylinder head gaskets

[tom444634]

What I thought was going to be a simple lifter change on my 71 LS5 has pretty much turned into a complete engine overhaul. The engine (original) has never been opened up until now. It has the original steel shim head gaskets. Question is, what type of head gasket is recommended to replace the shim type for this application?

Also, I was planning on replacing the cam with the Crane equivalent of the original. Is there another cam (manufacturer) I should look at? I want to stay as stock as possible but I am not against a small step up in cam profile.

Tom

[Joe L.]

Re: LS5 cylinder head gaskets

Tom------

For head gaskets, I'd go with a Fel Pro Permatorque Blue. You will lose a bit of compression going this way, though, since this gasket will be thicker than your stock steel shim type. There are other choices like MLS, but surface finishes become more critical. So, to avoid problems there, I'd go with the above. Use GM #12363413 or Fel-Pro 1017-1; both are exactly the same.

If you decide to go back in with steel shim, you need to make sure that your head and block surfaces are near-perfect with respect to flatness. If you go this way, use GM #14015351.

For a cam, I'd probably go with what you have. The L-36/LS-5 cam is a very good street cam----probably the best street cam that GM ever installed in a big block. The Crane choice is fine. You can obtain a Crane-manufactured reproduction of your cam in a kit with lifters under GM #12364055. This kit is a very good value.