best way to prep deck surface?

[TType84]

just wonderin what the best way was to prep the surface of the block before putting my heads back on..

i've got some carb cleaner, a putty knife, and a shop vac..

sound good? yes? no?

 

[REDS HOT AIR]

pretty much just get it clean and dry

carb cleaner actually leaves a oily residue brake cleaner is better for stuff like that

 

[zam70]

I always get off all I can with a razorblade or putty knife then when the bulk is gone, go over it with a red scotch brite pad and then wipe down with brake cleaner or laquer thinner.

This is how i prep all gasket surfaces

 

[geno]

I like to use starting fluid for cleaning up but i think im addicted to the stuff Just dont use the stuff that has upper end lube in it

 

[turbodave231]

Don't use a scotchbrite pad on a roloc disc. You will end up polishing the deck surface too much and loose the rough finish that grabs ahold of the head gasket. The same hold true for the heads.

I use a razor scraper and some brake cleaner.....I also take the heads in to my machinist and tell him to take a minimum cut on the heads.....just enough to clean the surface, but not enough to raise compression or change valve train geometry. He usually charges $50 or so to cut the head surface.

Geno uses the starting fluid only for the ether buzz!!!

 

[Fuelie600]

Acetone

 

[Chuck Leeper]

???????????????

Ever wonder why/how the scotchbrite pads cut the crud you are trying to remove????
They are an abrasive material.
How much of that $hit,[dust] do you want in your engine brgs??

???????????????????

 

[zam70]

I was talking about the pads they use to prep a painted surface - the square ones you use by hand.
I use it to get just the old end residue off and that's only if it's needed...I'm talking about a 30 second rub down not a sand job...

 

[Chuck Leeper]

Originally posted by zam70
I was talking about the pads they use to prep a painted surface - the square ones you use by hand.
I use it to get just the old end residue off and that's only if it's needed...I'm talking about a 30 second rub down not a sand job...

Knock yourself out!!

 

[geno]

Its funny when i was on a Northwest tour stock car team all you could smell in the pits was starting fluid from people cleaning parts. Then when i was helping on a top fuel car all you could smell was brake clean(And Nitro) from people cleaning parts. When i helped for a few years on a 410 sprint car they all used brake clean We use both brake clean and starting fluid at the shop depending on what we are cleaning. I like to final wash rods,cranks,pistons,heads ect with starting fluid I almost said the same thing about scotch brite because ive seen decks of heads and blocks destoyed from guys using it with a high speed die grinders and scotch brite. Sometimes i like to take a old used med cut stone with from a surface grinder to the decks with wd40 to knock off the rust. I know what the say in drag racing is gasoline is for washing parts and alcohol is for drinking and nitro is for racing LOL