head gasket removal
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From: Okinawa, Japan
head gasket removal what are you guys using to get your head gasket off the block with...how in depth are you guys going...i think in the past i dragged a razor blade as to not gouge the aluminum...any easy way? will be doing a HCI swap on my vette in the next couple weeks
i used a really strong plastic chizel it worked great,it was almost like a ice scrapper,and for the hard to get spots i used a very sharp metal chizel but was very very careful about getting into not getting into the block...
You have an 02 and thus the MLS gaskets. These are much easier to clean. I actually used my finger nail to get off the rubber stuck to the head from the gasket and then used a bamboo chopstick that was filed to look like a scraper on any tough stuff. Final clean with non-metallic Scotchbrite and denatured alcohol. Biggest concern is cleanliness so make sure you cover the lifter area real well and when done vacuum out the coolant passages around the cylinders.
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From: Okinawa, Japan
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I use brake cleaner and elbow grease. Ice scrapper wasn't the best for me as it's width makes it hard to get some parts of the block. Be sure to cover the lifter holes and I stuffed towels into the cylinders also.
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2008
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From: Lake Havasu
I used Permatex gasket remover, PN 80646, and sprayed everything south of the lifter box. It made the carbon on the pistons come off easy. Then I used the non metallic scotchbrite and a plastic scraper.
Mike V
Mike V
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Joined: Feb 2004
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From: Lexington, KY
Yes, just be careful and only after all of the gasket material is removed. For this I used a plastic scraper and razor blades, just be extremely careful not to gouge the surface.
I think vettenuts is correct, because the Techs at the local dealership use the regular scotchbright pads all the time to remove gasket material . I used them along with WD-40 to clean my block and pistons . They cleaned up like brand new . 
Staging Lane
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 73
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From: Lake Havasu
The Permatex is some potent stuff. I sprayed a few bolts that I had on a teflon cookie sheet just to see if it would soften the old loctite. Well it did soften the loctite some and it blistered the teflon coating on the cookie sheet. Looks like no cookies for me
Mike V
Mike V