cleaning up the head surface
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2000
Posts: 2,130
Likes: 1
From: mesa,az
cleaning up the head surface
I am rebuilding a SBC and the edelbrock heads are pretty heavily imprinted from the head gaskets. whats the best way to get them cleaned up and smooth again.
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Well, if you don't feel like taking the block to a machine shop to get decked...a jitterbug sander will work okay with a low grit first and then a medium grit. Go really slow and keep it flat the whole time.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I use an air grinder with 3M roloc discs. They look like Scotchbrite and come in several different grades. I start with a rough (gold color) and then finish with a red one that's not as rough..
Team Owner
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 24,125
Likes: 15
From: Columbia Missouri
Do you have trouble keeping the disc flat on the deck? That's all that would worry me.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2002
Posts: 7,098
Likes: 378
From: Las Vegas - Just stop perpetuating myths please.
Use the 3M discs in a drill - cordless nice here. The local Chevy dealer does then that way. BTW i did mine by hand and it took forever
- i hope u can learn from my experience - use that pad in a drill.
Now if the head aluminum surface is textured from the head gasket - see your machinist as it not worth hacking up good heads while learning what works and what don't.
cardo0
Le Mans Master
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 7,123
Likes: 433
From: Gladstone MO
C3 of Year Finalist (appearance mods) 2019
I don't grind on the heads- and they're aluminum. I just use the edge (outer 1/2" or so) and keep it moving. Just polish off the goo.
With those discs, you'd really have to get stupid to take enough off the surface to cause problems. Even the really rough one is about like the red 6x10 pad. They are just kind of bonded together so the disc can stand the rpm..
With those discs, you'd really have to get stupid to take enough off the surface to cause problems. Even the really rough one is about like the red 6x10 pad. They are just kind of bonded together so the disc can stand the rpm..
Pro
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 723
Likes: 0
From: North Port, FL
If they are actually imbossed by the head gasket I would have the heads resurfaced by your machinest. You might try Cometic head gaskets when you re-assemble. They are not as likely to imboss your alluminum heads.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2001
Posts: 7,739
Likes: 630
From: Unreconstructed, South Carolina
3M has a newer product that's better (not so agressive) for aluminum ... it's made of plastic & has plastic "bristles" ... use in a rotary tool ... a coupla different "grits" in different colors. The traditional "nappy" roloc type disc will even dig into iron ... but the newer plastic bristle is very easy on the metal but does take the gasket smutz right off.
-edit- bristle discs here
http://products3.3m.com/catalog/us/e...er/output_html
Last edited by jackson; Jan 29, 2007 at 10:50 AM. Reason: moinfo
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Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 16,945
Likes: 9
those are the ones I use, they are excellent. The scotch pads take away metal in a hurry when they're new. I always keep the worn ones when I need to polish something and they're great for that. I would not use them on an aluminium head.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 5,752
Likes: 4
From: Austin Texas
My machine shop scolded me on my use of scotch-lock pads on my iron block...something about the surface finish not compatable with good sealing. He recommended just block-sanding with 180 paper to give the deck some "bite"..