I have a 98 gsr and I'm planning to change my head gasket, what is the best way to clean the matting surfaces (top of the block, bottom of the head) ive used a razor blade before but didnt get the best results.

Also how do i check if valve seals are still good?

 

if you're going to change a blown head gasket most people will recommend that you take the head to a machine shop to get resurfaced (that would take care of cleaning the head). I've used razors to clean the deck of the block before but it's really slow and nerve racking, I don't know of any better way to do it.

To check the valve seals I guess you could pull a vacuum on each port with the valves closed and see how that holds up. If you just want to check that your valves are sealing you can pour a liquid into each port and see that it holds. A solvent like mineral spirits or acetone would be good but if you don't want to pay for a jug you could use water.

 

I use a super fine sand paper and water after the razor blade.

And the head will be clean after resurface.

As for testing valve seals the machibe shop can do a leak test.

I bought supertec valve seals for like 22 bucks and installed for 15 or so.

 

Have the head and block decked, it raises compression. And read above for valves