LS6 by pass coolant pipe and plug gaskets

**JayTA98** · 06-12-2011, 06:18 AM

Hi all, im doing my LS6 PCV valley cover. I had the old LS1 coolant pipe and removed it. I have the new plugs and the front pipe.

Now I notice that the new plug and pipe have the gaskets attached to them. On the block I can see a gasket. I'm not sure if this gasket was attached to the old LS1 pipe. Do i need to remove these old gaskets?

Thanks.

**redbird555** · 06-12-2011, 06:21 AM

yes they do the new coolant line use o-rings instead of the gaskets so remove your old ones and install the new line

**cammed goat** · 06-12-2011, 06:25 AM

Auto parts stores sell O-ring kits that I know of. The kit has various sizes. You can do what I do sometimes and take an old O-ring to the parts store with ya.

**cammed goat** · 06-12-2011, 06:42 AM

OBTW...I think the automotive O-ring kit is made by OTC. The rings are green. You could also try a hardware store.

**JayTA98** · 06-12-2011, 07:23 AM

well the new pipe and plugs have new o ring in them. What im asking is if I need to remove the old ones that I see on the block.

**cammed goat** · 06-12-2011, 08:25 AM

IMO, I would. Just to be safe.

**Cutlass** · 06-12-2011, 08:28 AM

yes. remove the old gaskets off the block and bolt on the new pipe/plugs with the orings.

**Cutlass** · 06-12-2011, 08:29 AM

the old gasket will come off and look like this.

**JayTA98** · 06-12-2011, 08:57 AM

Originally Posted by Cutlass

the old gasket will come off and look like this.

thanks cutlass that pic helped me understand. I didn't knew those can get removed like that. The cover is in and the new plugs and pipe. My dremel tooka dump right in the middle of cutting. i had to go to plan b but i got it cut. I tight the bolts for the plugs and pipe tight with my ratchet since there is no torque spec that i can't find for them. I think i will be done pretty soon.

**cammed goat** · 06-12-2011, 11:49 AM

Keep us posted.

**JayTA98** · 06-12-2011, 02:29 PM

All right I got done. I had another issue and it was with the bypass hose. It comes out of the radiator as 5/16" but the pipe tube is 1/4. I went to lowes and got a reducer from 5/16 to 1/4. Easy fix.

I drove around and no issues. The idle felt alot better while driving around for about 30mins. When i got home it started to surge slightly. It always done that. I did noticed alot of oil around the old cover. i think the gasket was bad. The idle fells way better than before but im not sure if it will be fix for sure. It seems everytime the PCM needs to relearn the idle it starts good and then goes back to the same old way.

Overall if my stupid dremel didnt failed I have gotten done a long time ago. Is kinda of nice not to have all that crappy PCV setup. One of KS was very rusted so I guess I did good by replacing those. My KS broke as soon as I tried to pull it out

**JayTA98** · 06-12-2011, 03:52 PM

carp i forgot to make the RTV bead around the KS... oh well

**JayTA98** · 06-12-2011, 04:07 PM

easy way to cooldown your overheated dremel...

**cammed goat** · 06-12-2011, 04:25 PM

Lookin good, Jay!!

***SMWS6TA*** · 06-12-2011, 05:01 PM

Was easy wasn't it?

**JayTA98** · 06-12-2011, 06:42 PM

Originally Posted by cammed goat

Lookin good, Jay!!

Thanks, headers are next.

**JayTA98** · 06-12-2011, 06:48 PM

Originally Posted by SMWS6TA

Was easy wasn't it?

It was a pain! it was hard to get the OPSU out. The stupid electrical plug was in a bad angle. Then I couldn't figure out the old gaskets. Thanks to cutlass that he posted the pic of it. Then the big oil mess that i had to clean. the preparation for the plastic bag with tape. lol my damm dremel broke in the middle of cutting. had to put the cutting wheel to a drill. then all the clean up from the coolant. It took me like 5 hours to finish.

So far 30 miles and the idle is way better. I did noticed that my intake still gets a small amount of oil even with the catch can.

It's all good I never got so close to an engine as far as removing stuff. It was challenging but i learned alot.

***SMWS6TA*** · 06-13-2011, 11:19 AM

**bryceslu** · 06-14-2011, 08:24 AM

Im guessing you HAD to go to the LS6 coolant lines as the LS1 lines no longer fit due to the little nubs on top of the LS6 valley cover?

***SMWS6TA*** · 06-14-2011, 08:36 AM

Originally Posted by bryceslu

Im guessing you HAD to go to the LS6 coolant lines as the LS1 lines no longer fit due to the little nubs on top of the LS6 valley cover?

That is the preferred way to do it. You can knock off the "nubs" in order to make room for a LS1 coolant pipe if you want to.

Some builders want the keep the coolant flow, so don't