RE: Cleaning head surfaces

[Paul Bowman <PTBowman@domain.elided>]

Someone posted a few days ago asking about cleaning head-gasket remnants
from his Spider head. As he pointed out, solvents are relatively
ineffective.

The best solution I've found is sold by Eastwood Tools in Malvern, PA,
(telephone: 1-800-345-1178 in the States).  They sell an item, catalog
#46055, called a "Gasket Cleaning Kit" that sells for $12.99.  Basically,=

it's a mandrel that you mount to your electric drill to which you attach =
a
Scotch-Brite (TM) disc (the kit includes 10 discs; a refill kit of 20 dis=
ks
for $16.99 is available as Part #46031).  The disks are 2-inches (5 cm) i=
n
diameter and attach to the mandrel by a velcro-type attachment.  The
Scotch-Brite pads do a superb job of"grinding" off burnt-on gasket remnan=
ts
without damaging underlying aluminum.

I've used this kit on two head-gasket replacements as well as a complete
engine and transmission overhaul with excellent results.

BTW, if you order one, ask for a catalog; it's loaded with all kinds of
neat stuff.  All of the stuff I've ordered over the years from them has
been of excellent quality.

Paul Bowman
'86 Spider
'88 Milano Verde

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