Question about cleaning gasket surfaces on heads and block

[redneck15431]

I have a 91 5.0 and just got my GT40's yesterday. They are used and the person who sold them to me left the old gasket material on the head. I also need to clean off my block gasket surfaces yet, so I'm wondering if I can use a brass wire wheel in a portable drill to clean off my gasket surfaces?

I did do this on the exhaust ports on the heads but they have a little rougher surface and really aren't as crucial as my block-to-head seal.

I am kind of hung up on this because those surfaces are very smooth and I really don't want to scratch the hell out of them and cause leaks, but at the same time I'm kind of in a push to get this engine together before next school semester.

So will brass wire wheel affect anything other than giving the heads a scratchy look? I done it on a very small location and it did give it a scratchy look, but I'm not going to do anymore until I know what it's going to do to my heads. I'm using a brass wheel because a steel one might be a bit harsh on the metal.
Thanks

 

[jgfiveoh]

you could use a fine wheel, as long as it's nothing to rough. stuff rags in the ports to keep debris out. the brass helps but a coarse wheel is still a coarse wheel.

they do make wheels that are meant for use on aluminum also.

are these heads alum. or cast?

cast you should be ok. either way use caution and don't lean into it too much.

 

[onefstsnake]

go get some aircraft stripper and spray it all over the gasket crap.

Come back in 10 minutes and wipe off. Good as new.

 

[DucatiRdr]

You can find gasket stripping pads that you put in your drill or whatever and these do a pretty good job while reducing the risk of damaging the gasket surfaces. I would limit wire brushing to exterior surfaces.

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[Rick 91GT]

I would be worried about the debris and possibly wire getting into the engine. Like metnioned they do sell gasket stripping pads, I'd stay away from the aircraft stripper that stuff is nasty and will eat anything it touches.

Use a razor blade on a scraper, clean it off with some brake clean and you should be good to go....

 

[DMAN302]

Try local industrial suppy shops...they will carry quick lock style scotch bright discs. These discs are a scotchbright like material that are exceptionally aggressive on gasket material but not abrassive enough to remove or damage metal surfaces.

 

[onefstsnake]

well the stripper Ive used wont eat away at most metal.
I used it on an engine block I used.

But the pads people mention above work nice too.

 

[Modular2v]

just use a razor and some brake cleaner

 

[Black1987Stang]

Brake cleaner and razor blade is my choice also.....if u do go the motorized pad route, use the rubber kind with the little rubber fingers, they work awesome and dont take away material like the normal abrasive pads do. I dont see many people using them or knowing about them but thats what I would prefer over the abrasive pads

 

[rickd93_lx]

go get some aircraft stripper and spray it all over the gasket crap.

Come back in 10 minutes and wipe off. Good as new.

X2, thats what i do