I got my cast iron 5.3/4.8 engine completely taken apart and in the process of cleaning. I was using a plastic scrapper on the deck and noticed some deposits that are being stubborn. I've read that the surface needs to be like glass so that the head gasket can make a proper seal. But im guessing that the some of the stubborn spots are corrosion and not sure how to get it off. I know many will reccomend taking it to a shop and get it machined, but im not 100% certain if its worth it to do so. Piston walls look great, but its the deck surface that worries me. What "limitations" do i have? What should i look for? What should i use to prep the surface?

 

Personaly i would take it to a machine shop and have them DECK IT. They will machine it perfectly flat, taking off about.005. If you do not want to go that route, get some green scotch brite pads, MENARDS and clean it with them and some WD40.

 

Yea, decking it would cost me the same to buy a block from summit.. ill try the scotch brite and WD40. Not sure if Menards is a thing or place, i know it as a place and that doesnt make sense.
Thanks for input

 

Any other suggestions?

 

I use a razor blade. hold it perpendicular to the deck and drag to avoid gouging.

 

i dont know whos been doing your machine work but having a block decked is substantially less than the price of a new block

 

For iron I use a carbide scraper that I got from Goodson tools. It takes off everything. Then I hit the surface with WD40 and red scitchbrite.

 

Dude if u buy any block from Summit or Jegs you still MUST have a machine shop go through it. I would not trust just rolling with a block that is bought without 100% knowing everything checks out. So your ahead of the game with the block you have now as far as I'm concerned. JMHO