If you encounter a 2014-2023 Chevy Corvette (equipped with an LT1, LT2, LT4 or LT5 engine) with a thermostat tick noise and/or a hot engine, if the engine was previously serviced and head gaskets were replaced, check gasket orientation.
Cylinder head locating tabs should be towards the front of the engine. In this left side example, the tab is correctly close to cylinder 3.
If you encounter a 2014-2023 Chevy Corvette (equipped with an LT1, LT2, LT4 or LT5 engine) with a thermostat tick noise and/or a hot engine, if the engine was previously serviced and head gaskets were replaced, check gasket orientation.
If the cylinder head gaskets were installed incorrectly, this can be the cause of the concern. Inspect the externally-visible gasket locating tabs to see if the gaskets were installed backwards. The tabs should be visible toward the front of the engine. If the tabs are found to be closer to cylinders 5 or 6, the gaskets were installed backwards, restricting coolant flow.
Mike Mavrigian has written thousands of automotive technical magazine articles involving a variety ofspecialties, from engine building to wheel alignment, and has authored more than a dozen books that crisscross the automotive spectrum. Mike operates Birchwood Automotive, an Ohio shop that builds custom engines and performs vintage vehicle restorations. The shop also features a professional photo studio to document projects and to create images for articles and books.
