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Had to pull a head to replace broken exhaust manifold stud with threaded insert. Not happy about it... This is as clean as my head and block get after a couple hours with acetone and razor blades. I could still go use a white roloc bristle disc but don't really want to. 5.3 iron block, aluminum head, from an 02 Silverado. They are smooth to the touch, just seems like they are stained this color. Using a Chevy MLS head gasket since that's what it came with. It's never going to see boost or even a cam, no mods except long tubes.
I'm by no means an expert, but if they're smooth and stained I wouldn't worry about doing it. I had heads that looked similar to this when rebuilding a camry 4 cyl motor and there hasn't been any issues in the 4 years since the rebuild. I did get some of the copper spray paint stuff and I coated the head gaskets in that to get a better seal though.
Thanks for the replies everyone. I ordered an OE Chevy one but just now read about Fel Pro having a special coating to allow for less than perfect surface finishes, so I think I should go with that one. I'm so paranoid about it not sealing...
I hone mine( millwright training won't go away) it will find any burrs or high spots, I also put each piston on TDC and use brake clean on the tops of them. Be sure and oil the piston bores to off set the brake-clean drying them out. I thought I was OCD until I realized the letters didn't line up...
Hi Cookse, thanks for your report.
This is what I do NOT understand, the rejected GOOD advice.
I too "hone" these surfaces.
This method is FASTER, less EXPENSIVE that BrakeCleen, removes all high spots, etc.
Thus you are NOT "OCD", you just use your mind !
Lance
Honing them definitely isn't a bad thing, and if these were going into a performance machine then I would definitely agree with you. However, since these are going into a stock application, they should hold compression and coolant just fine IMO
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Is this clean enough for head gasket? 
