I will be pulling the 041 heads off my 350 to replace the springs- just ordered the Voodoo 268 cam. What head gasket (brand/thickness) would you all recommend? Also, I should replace the head bolts right? Anything else I should do while there? Don't want to break the bank though. Thanks.

More likely you have stock clearances, ie. piston in hole , which usually is .025 or so. If thats the case, I would use the thin .015-.019 shim gasket. Spray with silver paint or Permatex Hi tack just to be safe .
If you can't afford head studs, you have the option to use what you have or go for a decent set like Mr gasket head bolts and washers or the Pioneer brand. Washers will help you get a good torque reading, keeps from eating head bolt hole faces.

I would also recommend you use some type of sealer on bolt threads. Permatex Indian Head shellac is fine. This will keep the bolts sealed as they pass thru the water jackets.
The gm brand gasket is fine. Felpro has one also , I believe the number is 1094. Its rubber coated for seal purposes. GM gasket is not .
You will also be looking to cut your quench area, (piston deck to head deck) , this help detonation.

Make sure your valve seals are in good condition . Springs are off so replace them.

On the cam side, you need to add some type of break in lube. Comp has an additive, might use this or GM EOS , if you can find it. Be sure to coat each lifter and lobe with the moly breakin paste. Use some Rotella 15-40 oil for start up break in, probably would not hurt to leave it in or continue using it.

More likely you have stock clearances, ie. piston in hole , which usually is .025 or so. If thats the case, I would use the thin .015-.019 shim gasket. Spray with silver paint or Permatex Hi tack just to be safe .
If you can't afford head studs, you have the option to use what you have or go for a decent set like Mr gasket head bolts and washers or the Pioneer brand. Washers will help you get a good torque reading, keeps from eating head bolt hole faces.

I would also recommend you use some type of sealer on bolt threads. Permatex Indian Head shellac is fine. This will keep the bolts sealed as they pass thru the water jackets.
The gm brand gasket is fine. Felpro has one also , I believe the number is 1094. Its rubber coated for seal purposes. GM gasket is not .
You will also be looking to cut your quench area, (piston deck to head deck) , this help detonation.

Make sure your valve seals are in good condition . Springs are off so replace them.

On the cam side, you need to add some type of break in lube. Comp has an additive, might use this or GM EOS , if you can find it. Be sure to coat each lifter and lobe with the moly breakin paste. Use some Rotella 15-40 oil for start up break in, probably would not hurt to leave it in or continue using it.

Great advice!!! One last thing, what about pushrods? Should they be replaced as well? Thanks again so much Don!

Great advice!!! One last thing, what about pushrods? Should they be replaced as well? Thanks again so much Don!

I would pull all push rods, inspect oil holes and edges, look for cracks. Also clean them up , roll them on a piece of glass. If you have close to 50% of the that have a wobble , or cracks, I would go for a new set. GM stock would work fine without guide plates. If you have guide plates, I would go for the black harden push rods, Comp makes some decent pushrods . Don't have to break the bank here. If your orginal pushrods pass the inspection, try to put them back in , the way they were. You may see little scuff marks on the tubing, indicating they were scuffing near the gasket. You did not say which type you have, one piece or the welded ball type.

You can change valve springs without pulling the heads. Just get a air hose adapter from O'Reilly that screws into the spark plug hole and the other end to the air line. I just did it with no problems. You will also need the spring compressor. There are other ways that have been posted too.

You can change valve springs without pulling the heads. Just get a air hose adapter from O'Reilly that screws into the spark plug hole and the other end to the air line. I just did it with no problems. You will also need the spring compressor. There are other ways that have been posted too.

Great tip! Much appreciated.