Removing old head gaskset material off of block

[99ishVR-4]

I recently took the heads off my car and took them to a machine shop to get them milled. I will be replacing the head gaskets and would like to know the best way to get the head gasket material off the block. Every where I have read seems to have conflicting methods from a razor blade, scotchbrite pads, 3m discs on a drill and but then for every method theres someone saying its unsafe. I have all the oil ports blocked off and have been using a razor blade and it does a good job of getting the excess material off but I can still see black rings of material around all the ports. I cant feel them with my finger but they are still there. Is it important to get ALL of the material off or is it ok if I can't feel a difference when I run my finger over?

Thanks!

[stealthee]

The 3m discs are awesome. Use them and love them.

[Hammer]

Acetone works great for that. Pour a little on a rag and that stuff just disolves and wipes away. Use gloves to protect your hands.

[Emilie@GZP]

all of the above listed work well. It really depends on how stubborn that shit it.

[$$$PIT]

all of the above listed work well. It really depends on how stubborn that shit it.

Agreed. I used a wire brush on a drill, because I already had it. It worked fine too.

[UTRacerX9]

Aircraft paint remover works as well, but ONLY on the block. It will corrode aluminum. Spray some of that stuff on and just wipe off. Try not to get any on your hands, it is very caustic.

[Hammer]

Aircraft paint remover works as well, but ONLY on the block. It will corrode aluminum. Spray some of that stuff on and just wipe off. Try not to get any on your hands, it is very caustic.

There is something inherently wrong with that statement because an airplane is made out of thin aluminum sheets held together with dissimilar metal rivets and flown through an electrolyte (rain). It is also subject to variable electrical fields (thunderstorms). Sooo....

[x2xtreme360]

There is something inherently wrong with that statement because an airplane is made out of thin aluminum sheets held together with dissimilar metal rivets and flown through an electrolyte (rain). It is also subject to variable electrical fields (thunderstorms). Sooo....

Aircraft paint remover is a paint remover sold at walmart. I don't think it has anything to do with aircrafts, literally.

Professional engine builders resurface the block on the same machine used for resurfacing the heads.That way it gets done properly.

Steve

If the block isn't warped (ie: you feeler it and it passes) then why would you even spend the money to resurface a non-warped block?

[Emilie@GZP]

No one in here is discussing resurfacing a head or block, just cleaning off the old headgasket material before installing a new one....

[UTRacerX9]

There is something inherently wrong with that statement because an airplane is made out of thin aluminum sheets held together with dissimilar metal rivets and flown through an electrolyte (rain). It is also subject to variable electrical fields (thunderstorms). Sooo....

As X2 said, I don't think it's actually used on aircrafts. It's just the name. It's just a really powerful degreaser/paint stripper.