Just thought I'd drop in to visit my old friends at the BC...

My mom'* LeSabre blew through an intake last weekend, so today I started on the hunt for parts, and found something of interest. While on the phone with GM SPO (service part operations), there'* a new part number for the LIM gaskets, but it'* not available yet - it'* on national backorder. The old lim gasket (metal carriers, p/n 89017816) is out of stock at all SPO locations in Michigan (though there is some stock left in other states).

So there'* a double heads up -

1) There'* a new p/n on the way - I have no details on this, or what improvements have been made - I'll see if I can look up the numbers at work tomorrow. The new p/n is 89017815, and is not yet available for sale.

2) The new gasket set is more expensive - the outgoing metal carriers cost GM dealers a hair over $36. The new set costs dealers $57.78 (plus tax) - which means the end user can expect to spend more like $80-100 depending on what dealer you go to.

Old gaskets are still available at dealers, and there is stock at SPO outside of Michigan, but I don't know for how long. If I can find out more specifics, I'll post back with the details.

I just did the motor on my bonnie. I got the new updated aluminum gaskets from Drapers here in Sag., MI. At first they were going to send me the pastic gaskets, but I asked for the aluminum ones and the service rep sounded confused. He looked more into it and seen an updated gasket that came out in March 2006. He sent me those and they were the new aluminum ones. My cost was $38 on those.

I just punched that new gasket number into GMPARTSDIRCT, and they show it listing for 101.38, and they are selling it for 60.09, but they call it an "engine cylinder head gasket". The old part number is called a "manifold gasket". Something seems funny.

Just for clarification, this is a new generation, beyond the metal carrier LIM gaskets you purchased. Not sure what the difference is yet, or if any dealer has them in stock yet.

This is one of the things that came up at www.buy-oem-parts.com, Crown Cadillac in New Jersey....Interestingly, it stops at '99 for supercharged engines, but goes to '07 for N/A.

Why is the new number one lower than the old? usually part numbers are released more or less in order.

I'll be watching this thread with interest.


BTW, good to see you around these parts again, Matt. Whatcha been up to?

FYI, trust this data. mkaake is a legend here for inside, in-depth, accurate, and first-heard GM part data.

I'm curious to see some pics and try to figger out what they changed.

(Matt got me full-blown detailed CAD drawings of S1 cylinder heads, absolutely invaluable during my head porting)

Very interesting. I can't imagine where they would go next with these. There weren't any carrier failures with the aluminum, were there? So perhaps a new sealing material or just a slight engineering change?

I can't wait to see what it is. Bummer about the price though.

Our part numbering system always moves down - at first I didn't even believe that this was a new part because of it. Imagine if you're in a plant... a raw, as cast part may have the p/n 1250009. Once part of it is machined, it may have the p/n 1250008. When it'* fully machined, it would have the P/N 1250007.

That also continues if it'* going to be thrown in a bag for sale - so in our example, if the same part had retail packaging available (not used at the plant, but for customer sales), it would (usually) get a new P/N - 1250006. Most of the time, anyways.

So at first I thought it was the same part... but the price difference is what clued me in. I'll look today at work (30 more minutes before I get there ), and see if there'* anything obvious on the part print.