I am getting so much conflicting info it’s confusing the heck out of me. I had a head gasket blown tool head to machine shop they pressure tested and took 20 thou off.

now I need to order a new gasket and new head bolts and im getting all kinds of answers on what to get.

some say thicker gasket, some say OEM gasket, others say truck will never be right without the LCE adjustable cam gear because my timing will be off.

does anyone have any similar experience with a machined head and care to share what you did?

 

I bought a new head because the wait was too long at the local machine shop.

Fel-Pro sells a shim that replaces the .020 that was shaved off your head. Also, .020 oversized gasket would be the other option. Check RockAuto for the oversized gaskets.


https://www.drivparts.com/part-detai...0Spacer%20Shim

 

ATK was using the metal shim procedure on their engines that were decked a lot
The camshaft turns ok-isn't binding?

 

When it is the block that has been decked, not the head milled short, pistons with their crown milled down are sometimes used.
I have bought NPR pistons that were milled short when manufactured, to accomodate decked blocks.