Hello, New guy here.
I searched for this but did not come up with anything.
I have not done this for a few years and was hopeful
there might be some new technology for removing head
gasket material from aluminum. Or old technology that works better than what I am using. Permatex spray and
a razor blade.

Cheers,
Jim

 

a chisel...carefully
oven cleaner helps remove sticky left over gunk

 

grey scotchbrite and some brake cleaner. id prolly brake clean first with a shoptowel then use the scotchbrite. after the grey you can use white which is even finer grit. after a minute it works surprisingly well and wont gouge the surface like a razorblade. just use a big sheet and keep light but even pressure as you go back and forth across the surface

 

permatex gasket remover does work better than oven cleaner and such, I use it to get most of it off, but 300 grit on a sanding block will finish the job and make it perfect. Make sure to use a sanding block, no bare hand shlt

 

I'll wrap this up now, thanks for the replies.

I sharpened a heavy duty putty knife till you could shave with it.
I sprayed with Permatex and let it soak over three nights
scraping each day.
I will sand it tomorrow, I have a sanding block.

I feel better now,

Jim