I heard you can normally salvage your old Valve Cover gaskets, and save about $60 on gaskets.

Is that true? If so, is it cheaper to just but all the gaskets separately and not buy the head gasket opposed to buying the Cam Change Gasket Pack from Thunder Racing?

 

With the valve cover gaskets, you won't know till you pull them. Do you leak now, with them? Assuming you don't, and they don't get damaged when you remove the cover , you may be fine. You will need to inspect the gasket.

Try some intake gaskets along with this: http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=106&PTSet=A

It would be a good idea to change the front cover seals when you remove the timing cover.

 

http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...tNumber=CS9966
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=102&PTSet=A

I have never needed to replace valve cover gaskets but they could tear on you.

 

just buy the gasket kit from thunderracing. it has everything you need. no guessing on which ones you still need. just save yourself the hassle. if you dont use certain ones sell them in the for sale section

 

If you don't need valve cover or oil pan gaskets, a timing cover set and intake set should be all you need and you will spend only about $30.

 

What hassle, I gave him 2 part numbers available local almost anywhere in the country at a great price roughly $$35 less without shipping once you throw in the valve cover gaskets.
http://www.partsamerica.com/ProductD...pe=107&PTSet=A
They frequently have free shipping over $50 or 10% order online pickup in person.

 

Reason I recommend the full bottomend gasket set is so you can pull the pan completely and replace the oilpump driveshaft with an all metal one and consider a higher pressure spring in the stock oilpump. I wonder how many LT1s have spun bearings because owners who thought they were careful dropped debris in the oilpan. I like to completely remove the engine, then again that is farily easy on my car.

 

Those ideas would be a good inclusion for anyone considering a cam change. Some attention to the oil pump is good insurance. The more miles the engine has, the better the idea becomes. The pan removal is a little more difficult with the f-body, but the benfits would be well worth it.

 

I have never tried to pull a pan in the chassis, I guess it is possible with some jacking of the engine, but the engine comes out of the b-body so easily I would not bother trying in chassis.

 

Would it be safe to say that for a head and cam swap I could purchase the two parts america part numbers above (the conversion kit and the intake kit) and add the head gaskets of my choice and I would be covered on gaskets?

Got a head and cam swap coming up and I need the gaskets, and this looks like a good deal.

Jeff

 

Yes, there is a slight chance you would endup needing valve cover gaskets too but if you do they are a stocked item as all the 86+ gen 1 motors and LTx motors use the same.

 

Don't forget about exhaust manifold gaskets. And then there are water pump shaft o-rings, if needed.

 

Cool. Thanks for the help. This does save some good money.

Jeff

 

The bottomend gasket kit has the WP shaft o-rings. Good point on the exhaust gaskets though.

 

Looking at the gasket kits more closely, can I just get the timing cover set instead of the conversion kit if I am not going to pull the oil pan? I dont think I have a use for most of those gaskets. Looks like there is a rear main seal oil pan gasket ect. I dont think I will need.

Jeff