Head Gasket Cleaning Help.........
Thread Starter
Dig
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,467
Likes: 1,127
From: Port Saint Lucie FLORIDA & HONDURAS
Head Gasket Cleaning Help.........
What is the best way to clean the remaining material off my 97 LS1 block ?
I tried plastic putty knives, razor blades and acetone. Is this the graphite ? It comes off like pencil lead like.
1 hour later and the drivers side of block is not 1/2 done !! I don't want to scrape into the block with the razor either. I guess, steel blockes are alot easier.......
THANKS
I tried plastic putty knives, razor blades and acetone. Is this the graphite ? It comes off like pencil lead like.
1 hour later and the drivers side of block is not 1/2 done !! I don't want to scrape into the block with the razor either. I guess, steel blockes are alot easier.......
THANKS
Drifting
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 1,384
Likes: 8
From: Southwest Virginia
Check AutoZone or that type of store for gasket remover. That stuff works pretty good but watch out, it will burn your hands up! Don't spray it on anything but the gaskets, I think it is about the same thing as industrial strength paint stripper!
For scraping I like using good sharp razor blades myself. Even if the gasket remover works you will still need to do some scraping. The key to cleaning aluminum with razor blades is never turn the blade over. As you start to scrape the end of the blade will bend up, when flipped over it won't scrape as good and will scratch the metal. I always mark the blade and keep the mark up while scraping. Expect to use 4-6 blades per side on a LSx engine that had GM non-MLS gaskets.
For scraping I like using good sharp razor blades myself. Even if the gasket remover works you will still need to do some scraping. The key to cleaning aluminum with razor blades is never turn the blade over. As you start to scrape the end of the blade will bend up, when flipped over it won't scrape as good and will scratch the metal. I always mark the blade and keep the mark up while scraping. Expect to use 4-6 blades per side on a LSx engine that had GM non-MLS gaskets.
Team Owner
Joined: May 2001
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From: Dear Karma, I have a list of people you missed.
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What is the best way to clean the remaining material off my 97 LS1 block ?
I tried plastic putty knives, razor blades and acetone. Is this the graphite ? It comes off like pencil lead like.
1 hour later and the drivers side of block is not 1/2 done !! I don't want to scrape into the block with the razor either. I guess, steel blockes are alot easier.......
THANKS
I tried plastic putty knives, razor blades and acetone. Is this the graphite ? It comes off like pencil lead like.
1 hour later and the drivers side of block is not 1/2 done !! I don't want to scrape into the block with the razor either. I guess, steel blockes are alot easier.......
THANKS
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
Believe it or not, I used a bamboo chopstick with the edge filed down to a chisel. It will not scratch the aluminum and works pretty good. This is the most time consuming part of the job, and your time and effort will pay off with no leaks. In my opinion, don't rush the job with anything that puts the block at risk of a scratch, especially if you are using Cometics.
Thread Starter
Dig
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 5,467
Likes: 1,127
From: Port Saint Lucie FLORIDA & HONDURAS
I worked on it a little more. It does take a long time to get it done !!
Some of the grey,fine material coming off the block looks like graphite w/ a sheen.
Time to do some more.........
Thanks
Some of the grey,fine material coming off the block looks like graphite w/ a sheen.
Time to do some more.........
Thanks
Team Owner
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 22,025
Likes: 192
From: At the beach in little Rhody
