Preping block surface for new head gaskets?

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Ok, the heads are off the car and will be sent to a machine shop to be magged, cleaned, and resurfaced.

What is the best way to clean the block surface?

Also, when I removed the heads, I thought for sure that I put the passenger one on backwards. Turned out I didnt. All was right with them. The other thing that seemed strange is that I couldnt find a place where the gasket looks to have blown.

The only thing I noticed is that the fire ring seemed to have seperated from the gasket. I assume this would be enough to cause the cooling system to pressurize, the coolant to smell of exhaust, a block tester to indicate hydrocarbons, running hot, foam in the radiator and coolant to purge?

The only other factor I could think of was that I used Trick Flow head dowels with my Iron heads. I am replacing them with stock felpro dowels and noticed that the Trick Flow ones are approximately twice as long as the felpro one. Maybe too long and cause incomplete seating of the head?

FWIW my combo is.

302 / E7 powerheads / Probe pistons with low tension rings / one of Jay's custom cams / ported stock intake / AOD / 4.10's and a bunch of other little things.

Thanks guys.

I was going to use those small round abrasive disc you attach to the end of a drill. you can get them from auto zone. The are green or red and have the texture and consistancy of a scotch brite pad.