I'm replacing the head gasket on a sohc ZC motor that I just bought from Hmotorsonline. However, the original fiber gasket that was on it is a total bitch to get off; I mean that thing is really baked on. The motor had no overheating issues that I'm aware of since I took it apart once it arrived and nothing looks out of the ordinary.

I've got the 3 layer metal gasket to replace it but exactly how smooth does the deck have to be for that metal gasket? Some folks seem to think it'll be ok after carefully removing the old gasket while others suggest resurfacing the block no matter what so a truly flat and smooth surface can be had?

I'm having to use razors to very slowly scrape off the old head gasket and I hope this isn't hurting the surface, as I am being very careful? I'm definitely not going use scotchbrite anything since I've read all the horror stories about the aluminum oxide particles destroying rod and journal bearings.

Thanks in advance for the help.

 

bump...

 

You want a clean surface, so getting all the old junk off is a necessary.

 

Yeah, that's a given, but just how "perfect" does the surface need to be? Should be a machined finish or is just scraping the old gasket off good enough?

 

Make sure it's clean with no junk. Then take a straight edge and go over it too make sure it still has a flat surface. You shouldn't need to machine it. Get a gasket scraper at a local parts store.

 

Whether you use a scraper (opt for a brass one if you can find it) or a razor blade, be careful not to nick or gouge the surface of the head or the block. Permatex makes a gasket removal spray which has helped me remove stubborn baked on gaskets in the past.

 

Ok. Yeah I pretty much finished the deck apart from the cylinder walls. I used every gasket removal solvent I could find and nothing worked...even let that permatex stuff sit for an hour or more. Anyway, I got it down to where there's only some faint black streaks from the gasket being embedded in the machining marks from the factory. I'll go back over it with some acetone or other solvent as a final pass.

Thanks for the help. I just wanted to see if anyone else had taken the same path with no ill effects in the end.