Does it matter which way the head gaskets go on????

Notmyvette · 08-01-2009, 03:20 PM

Does it matter what direction the head gaskets go on on a ls1? My stang has a FRONT that has to face the front for cooling jacket purposes...Is the ls1 the same thing? I totally forgot about it when I put on the head gasket, does it matter?
If so is there a way I can tell which way it's on without pulling the head?
Thanks

Hilton · 08-01-2009, 03:44 PM

Yes. It matters. At least on the stock GM gaskets it says, "front" on it.

MrElectric03 · 08-01-2009, 04:03 PM

Yea the coolant passages are different, not sure how big of a difference it would make.

02*C5 · 08-01-2009, 08:14 PM

it should say on the gasket. That's why on your heads you also have a "front" and "back" on them also.

slowrollin93 · 08-01-2009, 08:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02*C5

it should say on the gasket. That's why on your heads you also have a "front" and "back" on them also.

Are you sure about this? I thought both heads were the same, and on the mls gm gaskets I am pretty sure it just says top on it? I could be wrong but it wasn't that long ago i was putting my motor together, and I'm pretty sure this is how it was.

Jon

kenp · 08-01-2009, 09:59 PM

Gasket should have front on it and obviously that is the top.

Heads do not have a front and back, they can go on either side. Your coolant tempsensor is on your D/S head though.

02 35thLE · 08-01-2009, 10:31 PM

On a 5.3 they are marked and if you put them on wrong it will overheat. So the LS1 should also have a front and back.

SHovV · 08-02-2009, 01:40 PM

yes it matters

02*C5 · 08-02-2009, 05:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 02 35thLE

On a 5.3 they are marked and if you put them on wrong it will overheat. So the LS1 should also have a front and back.

^^

Thank you, the coolant ducks are not the same for the 5.3 heads. The driver side heads have a ground the passenger side do not. Your driver side heads have the bolt pattern for the power steering pump the passenger side do not.

But for those of you who do not think so please go ahead and place then on which ever side you want.

kenp · 08-03-2009, 11:24 AM

Where does the OP say he has a 5.3? He says he has an LS1.

THE LS1/LS6 HEADS CAN BE INSTALLED ON EITHER SIDE. THEY ARE NOT MARKED FRONT AND/OR BACK.

This is how BS gets perpetuated on the internet. I have a pair of LS1 casting # 241 heads on the shelf and I also have a pair of LS6 casting # 243 heads on the shelf.

They are the same with the same bolt pattern on each end and the passages cast the same on each head.

I looked real hard but couldn't find any ducks in any of them.

Hilton · 08-03-2009, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenp

...

THE LS1/LS6 HEADS CAN BE INSTALLED ON EITHER SIDE. THEY ARE NOT MARKED FRONT AND/OR BACK.
...

I'm telling you, the word "Front" is written on GM head gaskets.

Found a picture from when I was putting things together

I'm not arguing the heads matter which side they go on, only that the gaskets have a "FRONT", which was the original question in this thread.

02 35thLE · 08-03-2009, 02:59 PM

I never said he had a 5.3 only that it does matter on a 5.3 which is front and back as far as the gasket goes. The LS1 gasket should also be the same as noted in the above pic. As far as the heads go they should be able to go on either side.

kenp · 08-28-2009, 11:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hilton

I'm telling you, the word "Front" is written on GM head gaskets.

Found a picture from when I was putting things together

I'm not arguing the heads matter which side they go on, only that the gaskets have a "FRONT", which was the original question in this thread.

And I said that the head gaskets are marked 'front' in post #6. I guess you missed that.