I don't have pictures of mine, but when I did it the first time around 1.5 years ago they looked worse than that. And I only had 77,000 miles on it at the time.

My lowers looked similar when changed @73K.

Mine is at the dealership *right now* getting upper and lower. I just called my service guy there and gave him that part number and told him to research it and see if it is accurate or not, and to use it if it'* accurate. I'll let you guys know what I find out!

EDIT: Yes, seems this is in fact a newly released all-metal lower intake gasket. My service guy says there are two versions of the lower intake: one without locating pins and a newer one with locating pins (my engine); and the new all-metal gasket is for the newer intakes (like mine) with locating pins.

So add this to our info! My service guy says he can get it and will use it on my engine! Woo Hoo!
-Mark

That'* great. When I did mine Advance had new and old designs. The new had the pins but neither were metal.

since you seem close to this guy, see if he can snap some pictures before they get installed. I am interested to see what they look like.

I didn't get there until this morning, and they already had it back together, so no pictures. :(
But that is apparently a new all-metal lower intake gasket, and they got it and used it. And I just had the intake gaskets done 33000 miles ago (at 50,000). Shouldn't they last longer than that???
-Mark

they should last longer than that. Thats why I went with Felpro in this case.
Using OEM will only get you OEM results.

Strange because I am pretty sure Fel-Pro makes GM gaskets

Picked up my car, all fixed now. But turned out I have the older block without guide pins, so we couldn't use the new metal gasket and had to use standard. But I got all new upper and lower manifolds which are supposedly redesigned, so hopefully this is the last time I'll have to deal with it!
-Mark

interesting, because my 96 L36 has the guide pin holes in the block.