Cleaning the Head before install (staining)

benniku · Post by **benniku** » 18 Jan 2012, 18:13

SO I am through the first half of Tracy's tutorial on 850 head gaskets and am ready to put the beast back together tonight. My only concern is that the bottom of the head still has black gasket material stuck to it is such a way that it looks like someone dipped a golf ball in black paint and rolled it over the surface. (I hope that makes sense). The texture appears to be more of a stain than anything, but I can still feel it when I run my finger over it. I had the head tested and cleaned at a machinist and he didn't have am comments about it. I have tried gasket remover, scotch pad, and a very, VERY light run over it with a razor blade, but it doesn't want to budge. I would hate to have to redo this job because of something so minute. I talk to non-volvo car guy and he said just coat the head gasket in the copper gasket spay and it should be fine. Any help would be awesome. Thanks.

benniku · Post by **benniku** » 18 Jan 2012, 18:14

I'll post a pic of what I am talking about when I get back to my house.

benniku · Post by **benniku** » 18 Jan 2012, 18:58

claymore850 · Post by **claymore850** » 18 Jan 2012, 19:09

You can try with a scotch pad soaked with brake cleaner spray, wait a few minutes to let the spray act over the old gasket.

Avoid using a razon blade, due the risk of make damage over the sealing surface..

mcguyverii · Post by **mcguyverii** » 18 Jan 2012, 19:28

First take some mineral spirits (paint thinner) and cloth to wipe off, but acetone will most prob take care of it. Remember it's like paint job, if you can feel then you can see it. Translate the matting surfaces will find a way to leak between them. Both surfaces the block and head have to be true!
Mcguyverii

benniku wrote:

Old credit cards are good the scape with, plastic goes before metal.

Post by **erikv11** » 18 Jan 2012, 20:03

I agree with you, it definitely needs to be cleaner. You can tell in the pics the surface isn't flat. I tried credit cards but they didn't do anything for the majority of the residue. I used razor blades, and was incredibly careful. It took a long time, like a couple hours. There is a lot of surface compared to the size of the blade. Be sure you don't gouge. That gasket material should come up like dust or powdery, clumped shavings.

EDIT: that is relevant to cleaning the block surface, not the head! Get the head surfaced at a machine shop.

benniku · Post by **benniku** » 18 Jan 2012, 20:17

ok thanks. i'll give it a go

Post by **JDS60R** » 18 Jan 2012, 20:31

Take the head to a competent machinist and have him skim cut the head. It should cost you about $50 and you will have a proper finish. The length of time you expect the new seal to last is highly dependent on how flat a surface you have.

Post by **jblackburn** » 18 Jan 2012, 20:31

Acetone is amazing!!!

Post by **JDS60R** » 18 Jan 2012, 20:39

For your learning pleasure

http://www.youtube.com/user/fiatnutz?fe ... 5NB8jM3Pt0

http://www.youtube.com/user/fiatnutz?fe ... ZQ3lJslhCg