Having troubles getting all the leftover material off the block...

[kylefoto]

Alright, so in the middle of a head gasket repair right now.
Been scrappin away at the block with a razor blade, scotch brite pads and using some spray gasket remover and brake cleaner. I've made a bit of progress, but not much and it's killing my back and fingers.
I searched a bit, but couldn't find anything that people had found to work pretty well to get the material off.
Any suggestions are welcome and helpful!

 

[Jaguar_5]

Removing old gasket is alot of work, especially the headgasket, theres not really much of a way around it. (except decking the block)

Are your fingers hurting because you're using a single blade, alone? You gotta get a gasket scraper (they're like $5) to give you a longer handle and some leverage on the blade, that really is your best bet!

 

[kylefoto]

Removing old gasket is alot of work, especially the headgasket, theres not really much of a way around it. (except decking the block)

Are your fingers hurting because you're using a single blade, alone? You gotta get a gasket scraper (they're like $5) to give you a longer handle and some leverage on the blade, that really is your best bet!

iiight.
I might have to stop and get one tomorrow.
Schucks carry em?

 

[johnathan1]

Wow, my head gasket just lifted off of the block in one piece...interesting.

 

[bigaaron]

Alright, so in the middle of a head gasket repair right now.
Been scrappin away at the block with a razor blade, scotch brite pads and using some spray gasket remover and brake cleaner. I've made a bit of progress, but not much and it's killing my back and fingers.
I searched a bit, but couldn't find anything that people had found to work pretty well to get the material off.
Any suggestions are welcome and helpful!

Another great reason to have it surfaced.

(Sorry for the ::dead horse:

 

[johnathan1]

So head gaskets usually are really hard to get off of the block? Why was mine still intact then?

 

[bigaaron]

Depends on how old it was and how much corrosion there was around the coolant passages.

 

[johnathan1]

ahh...thanks aaron. Guess mine had been replaced recently...lol.

 

[kylefoto]

Another great reason to have it surfaced.

(Sorry for the ::dead horse:

Aaron, if I had the time, space, money, and a cherry picker, I would, but I don't.

 

[3p141592654]

The best alternative, although neither easy nor fast, is to manually lap the block with a lapping plate.

For a 6" round plate (a little small but this can be used with care to do a block) this place will get you one for under $100.

http://www.statecollegecentral.com/metallathe/MLA19.html

You will also need some diamond lapping compound, and thick grease to plug all the holes in the block to stop the grit from getting down into the oil and coolant passages.

You might want to rethink getting the block machined.

 

[mhopemk3]

I used a die grinder with the scotch brite pads.. Turned out great.. I used a stock gasket with copper spray though.. I also used ARP studs and TQ'd them to 85lbs.. I am running 12PSI with no problems.

 

[johnathan1]

^^That's a very good idea.

 

[mhopemk3]

:icon_bigg Thanks!! It's not the best but it worked pretty well.. I just felt like .. hey if I have to pull the block to have it decked I might as well spend $5g's and build the whole thing.. :naughty:

BTW... Nice shiny sawblades.. I want to strip mine and paint them white!

 

[MDCmotorsports]

^^That's a very good idea.

Thats a very bad idea.

Scotch brite pads, steel wool, or other soft abrasive leaves the already warped surface even more warped.

Your options are:

-A lapping stone
-A lapping pad (as stated) with compound
-Remachining
-Starting with 100 grit and moving all the way up to 1000 grit sand paper using a flat block.

 

[kylefoto]

Thats a very bad idea.

Scotch brite pads, steel wool, or other soft abrasive leaves the already warped surface even more warped.

Your options are:

-A lapping stone
-A lapping pad (as stated) with compound
-Remachining
-Starting with 100 grit and moving all the way up to 1000 grit sand paper using a flat block.

Thanks for the info jon.
Is a razor blade going to hurt it much?

 

[MDCmotorsports]

As long as you use some sort of media (sand paper with block, etc) after scraping, you should be fine. Just be sure not to nick or gouge the surface with the blade.

 

[mhopemk3]

I must be somewhat lucky that my block isn't warped that much.. Or either I'm going to blow that stock HG anyday now.. More reason for a rebuild..

 

[soupdog89]

going through the same thing at the moment, what hg you going to use?

 

[oscolivar1]

lapping stone/pad is you best bet if u dont have money to get it machined.
look for justin727 build thread.
i think he said ur suppose to use a figure 8 motion.

 

[87nasupra]

I used a power sander and 180 grit sandpaper all the way up to 600 grit. Its holding good for an N/A with a stock HG and ARP's Torqued to 80ft lbs. I will be having my block and head resurfaced on my turbo engine though.