Gasket Removal Techniques?

[johndemar]

So I finally got the head off yesterday, and saw evidence of damage to the head gasket around the number 1 cylinder.

The gasket stayed on the block and acts like it's been there for 40 years, although it's more like 8-10.

What to you guys use to clean the old gasket off, plastic putty knife, chemical cleaners? Briefly looking I'm hesitant to use anything abrasive, on the head at least.

[klweimer]

You can buy brass scrapers from http://www.mcmaster.com. Then use scotchbrite wheel on block. Not perfect, but workable. Important to clean as much gunk out of cylinders after cleaning as possible. Plug cooling passages to minimize gunk in water jacket.
Kirk

[johndemar]

Thanks....

I got the block nice and clean gently using a razor blade scrapper along with a vacuum hose as I went.
The head doesn't appear too bad and have some plastic scrappers along with carb cleaner, WD40, etc to clean it up.
Then check them with a straight edge to make sure they're flat.

Easy! Now all I have to deal with is the water pump bolt that snapped off.

[RRoller123]

Me too, done carefully with a flat razor blade and a focused vacuum cleaner, simultaneously, to keep the junk from going down the water and oil channels, etc. Block them with small rags is a good idea.

[carl]

Hopefully you found and saved the two little dowels that usually get stuck on the gasket and fit between the head and block.

[manoa matt]

Aloha John,

One trick is to bring the piston about an inch from the top and place plumber's putty or playdough around the piston to cylinder wall interface so no small particles get stuck in the piston rings. I don't worry too much about debris in the cooling system holes, you can flush out the block if the water pump is off with a hose. The trick is not getting particles down the oil galley holes.

I've drilled out two of those broken off water pump bolts and it's not fun. Fortunately the fractured face of what was left in the block was slightly convex and the drill bit centered nicely. Start small and drill successively larger holes until you just encounter the threads. At that point you can use small picks and dental tools to pick out the rest, or try and run a tap through. Sometimes by the time you drill enough out, the remaining bits will simply unscrew.

[johndemar]

Yep, I saved the positioning dowels from being thrown away and have everything nice and clean. Put a straight edge across the block and head and it looks good to go. I'm just incredibly slow and could never make money doing this.

I'm going to try a torch on the bolt tomorrow and see if I can persuade it out with vice grips. If not it will be time for a drill.

Anyone use a gasket sealant like Permatex copper spray on the head gasket, or just leave it like it is? Don't want to do this twice, cause I'm getting too old to be picking up the head off the block.

[ORFORD2004]

You should try the welded nut trick.

[johndemar]

Ha, that would require a mig welder, and me actually knowing how to use it!

[klweimer]

I wouldn't put any extra sealant on the head gasket, unless instructed in the install directions.
Kirk