I figured I would change the valve cover gaskets on my 96 4.3L since I had the intake off as well and the first set I got were to big. Took them back and brought the covers with me and we tried another set at the store and they to were to big. Went across the street to another store and same problem. It finally took the guys opening up a head set and pulling the ones out of it to find ones that fit. Could there have been a bad prodction run or something with them, the guys at both stores were puzzled and it's not like it is anything except stock under the hood.

was the motor ever replaced in this? If not try a 95 because There was another all new head introduced in '96. It had bigger intake and exhaust ports, no exhaust crossover and four angled bolts for the intake. It's an 10235772 casting.