Maciek

I am removing the old gasket from my intake manifold and it left pieces on the engine block and the manifold. I am currently scraping it away by hand with a razor blade. Is there any trick to this that would make removing it much easier? I have most of it off but there are still little chunks here and there that are very annoying and difficult to remove. Any tips would be appreciated. Thanks in advance.

theedge

IIRC from when I did that, brake cleaner sped the process up.

joseph mitro

no help here. it is a real pain. make sure you don't drop any debris in the engine intake holes on the head.

austin944

I have used 3M Scotch-Brite discs when I replaced the waterpump on my car.

Don't get too energetic with them, since a machine shop owner told me that the discs can round down corners if you're not careful.

GlenL

Gotta do whatcha gotta do....

I use razor blades and then 3M pads with lacquer thinner. Be very careful as the blades will gouge the aluminum.

Tom M'Guinn

That's actually the head you are working on, rather than the block, but the upshot it the same. It's a pain. Take your time. Don't scratch the metal with the blade. I keep it lubricated with wd40 or the like. Stuff paper towels in the intake ports to keep the gunk out. A scotch-brite pad (on the back of sponges sold at supermarkets) will help once you have most the old material off.

When I removed my head, I worked for hours cleaning up the mating surface on the block itself.

ahofam123

I usually use a razor blade to get the bulk of the material off, then I switch to wetsanding paper(1500 grit with soapy water as a lubricant) to get any remaining debris off. As long as you don't go crazy scrubbing it, and as long as you keep the paper wet, you can remove the gasket material while keeping the gasket surfaces intact.

Chris_924s

use a shop vac to get the little "chunkies" out afterwards.

Mighty Shilling

the little "chunkies" are a Pain in the ***...

HY M8NC

I used a razor blade, just takes time. Ditto on the rags in the intake holes, and a shop vac to clean them out. I didn't soak mine in anything...maybe that wouls have saved some time.