Click the www to check it out.

Whoa man how did you cut out all that metal behind the headlights?

Looks like a project for me.

This reminds me, I need to update mine.

Nice job.

Here'* an off the wall question: When you installed your heads, did you use an exhaust gasket?

I think I just used a pair of shears? It would be easy to do with a cutting wheel.

Thanks.
Yep. I think GM started using them on the series 2'*. Did you use them with your swap?

I didn't need to separate the manifolds from the motor during the swap so I can't confirm if the 97 has them or not. I pulled the heads from a spare L27 motor today. It'* my winter project to rework them along with the factory exhaust manifolds. I remembered that when I took the manifolds off, there was no gasket. Just wondering how you port matched the exhaust outlets.

Ohh well I'm 98.547% sure the ser2 came with thin layered metal gaskets. The replacement felpro'* are a little different and non-reusable.
When I did the p&p on my heads I only gasket matched the intake ports. I opened the exaust a little bit but I didn't change the shape or port match them to the circular gasket or manifolds.
I think port matching the exhaust ports would be bad since it would change the shape(slowing flow around the curve?), and there is no lip to keep the exhaust pulses going in one direction. And the front manifold is really riddled with casting errors too so they vary shape.

Looks goods