head gasket removal

**tbias** · 01-06-2009, 11:29 AM

whats the best way to get all of the old gasket off? ls1 how to says use an ice scraper but not all of it is coming off. is there something for a drill for this application ? thanks for any imput.

**JoshieDoom** · 01-06-2009, 11:42 AM

I would use these type. 3m Scotch Brite Abrasive pads. Weve got boxes of them for such.

**tbias** · 01-06-2009, 11:44 AM

where can i buy them? walmart ?

**JoshieDoom** · 01-06-2009, 11:45 AM

Autozone should have them. Walmart might.

**tbias** · 01-06-2009, 11:53 AM

thanks brother. ill give them a shot.

**346ci** · 01-06-2009, 12:19 PM

I would not use scotch brites, they can scratch the block and head if too much pressure is applied. At my shop we use these
http://http://www.emisupply.com/catalog/3m-scotchbrite-roloc-bristle-disc-2-white-10box-p-3255.html you have to really misuse them to remove metal off your heads or block. Just my 2 cents

**tbias** · 01-06-2009, 04:08 PM

those look pretty cool. the last thing i wanna do is scuff up the block. the heads are gettn replaced.

**JwMonE99** · 01-07-2009, 08:10 AM

Thats why I like using my copper gaskets

**JoshieDoom** · 01-07-2009, 08:31 AM

Irony, looks like Ill be yanking the 4.3 on my dads car. Popd a head gasket this morning.

**0rion** · 01-07-2009, 02:50 PM

if you use scotch brite pads make sure you don't get it into the cylinders as it'll find it's way to some bearings and be like sand paper in there. It's strongly recommended not to use scotch brite due to the grit but to be completely honest with you I used it on my heads with no issues. Just tape the cylinders off so you don't get it into the cylinders. Another thing I did that's strongly advised against is use a razor blade laid flat on it's side. Not a smart thing to do but if you're very careful and don't gouge the deck it works great. Whatever you use make sure you get that deck as clean as possible.

**tbias** · 01-08-2009, 03:17 AM

thanks Orion. do you tape up all of those small openings as well ? masking tape?

**tbias** · 01-08-2009, 03:22 AM

1 more thing. how about the piston tops? they have black carbon looking shit on them.

**0rion** · 01-08-2009, 06:49 AM

Originally Posted by tbias

1 more thing. how about the piston tops? they have black carbon looking shit on them.

once again, I did what you're not supposed to do and used a razor blade laid flat to get the carbon off the pistons. I didn't worry about taping off the coolant passages but just make sure that grit doesn't get into the engine.

**tbias** · 01-08-2009, 03:37 PM

thanks for the imput. im gonna go after it this weekend. did you use a shop vac and some compressed air to clean up the mess? ive never done a head gasket before and i dont wanna f anything up.

**0rion** · 01-08-2009, 04:01 PM

after you take the water pump off stick a shop vac to the passages going into the heads and suck the coolant right out of the heads. That will cut down on your mess 10 fold. After you get the deck clean you HAVE to get all the coolant out of the bolt passages. If not you take a chance of cracking the block. Compressed air will blow a lot of the coolant out and you can take some paper towels and twist them into "booger pickers" and get the reamaining coolant out of there. My wife is a nurse and I had her bring me home some of those real long q-tips like a dentist uses and used those to get it out of there.

**tbias** · 01-09-2009, 04:56 AM

yea i read the same thing on ls1how2.com . what head gasket did you use?

**0rion** · 01-09-2009, 06:07 AM

Originally Posted by tbias

yea i read the same thing on ls1how2.com . what head gasket did you use?

I just used stock replacement graphite gaskets....mainly because I thought MLS gaskets came with the kit and they didn't and I didn't want to wait around for MLS gaskets to come in. I have no plans to ever take the heads off again so I just used the graphite gaskets. If I do then I'll cuss myself for not getting the MLS.