97 & 98 heads help...

[DWFTA]

Everywhere I look, I see cylinder heads for 99 and up. I know the head gasket is different, and that the valve cover is center bolt not perimeter.
What else is different? Can I just replace my heads with the 99 and up style, as long as I use the proper gasket and a new style set of valve covers?
Any info is appreciated.

[Zboner]

have you gotten your rod bolts replaced yet? they are extremly week on the 98 cars im having mine done soon

[DWFTA]

Interesting. I am fairly certain there have been no changes to the rod bolts on the ls1, nor have I heard anyone having issues with there strength. If anyone could confirm this I would be interested in some details.

[Zboner]

before i got my car the motor blew at the dealership and it was because of the weak rod bolts and numerous people have told me the same thing on 98 cars and then they recieved an upgrade in 99 and another in 01 i believe :think:

[DWFTA]

ok. thanks for the info. Any comment relevent to my actual question?

[Zboner]

i dont know about the heads all that much, all i know is that the 97-98's are different then the others, oh and if anyone else knows about the ROD BOLTS please chime in

[BerryWS6]

yea 97-99 LS1 have the weaker rod bolts, I have replaced mine with ARP rod bolts and I am spinning all the way to 7000rpm of course the more power you put out the greater risk there is.
yes you can replace you heads with new style ones, just will have to buy new vavel covers and coil pack brackets

[DWFTA]

thanks fellas. I am dropping the motor out to install (as yet undetermined)
heads and cam, and the timing set/ oil pump early next year. I figured I might as well re-ring it while its out (80,000+ miles), and I suppose now Ill need to put a set of rod bolts on my list. I am leaning towards SLP, for the H&C as well as the oil pump and timing set. Any opinions?

[Zboner]

personally i do not like SLP, just bought a bellow and did not even fit, so

[DWFTA]

Ya ill give you that, I have one of there bellows and it blows. But I have there headers/y-pipe, and I used to have there loadmouth catback. I am impressed with the quality of there exhaust products. They try to design there parts to a factory equipment level.

[Zboner]

headers is my next project im going stainless i think

[DWFTA]

I like my slp tuned length. They are stainless and jet-hot coated inside and out, and the fit and finish are excellent. But they are pretty pricey compared to alot of there competitors.

[Zboner]

its better then the rusty look :yup: