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01-05-2024, 05:14 PM
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#1 |
  
Drives: 2010 Camaro SS , 2011 Colorado LS1 Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 827
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Surface prep for Head gaskets and other sealing surfaces
I'm interested to know what everyone's preferred technique for getting surfaces ready for head gaskets. What are you guys doing for oil pan, valley cover, front cover and other sealing surfaces.
Please share what you guys are doing. I'm interested, and could be a good source for future searches...  Thanks! Brian
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01-06-2024, 03:28 PM
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#2 |
     
Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,105
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A friend of mine told me to go over the block deck with the largest sander you can fit on the deck with fine grit sandpaper and keep it moving. But I'm kind of scared to do that but I probably should. lol
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DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer
Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817 |
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01-06-2024, 03:36 PM
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#3 |
     
Drives: 2011 SS-RS Join Date: May 2011
Location: FLORIDA
Posts: 11,435
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Whenever I did any block prep back in the day, I just did like joe said, went over all the flat mating surfaces with very fine emery cloth, probably 800-1000 grit and sand it all smooth. I did it by hand. Just make sure you tape off or block off any holes that lead into the engine so nothing gets in there from the sanding. Then after all that I wiped all the mating/mounting surfaces with a cloth wet with alcohol..
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TSP STAGE 3 CAM,231/246 @112 LSA 614/641 LIFT, CIRCLE D 5C-4200-4500 CONVERTER,LOD INTAKE.CORSA EXHAUST. DSS 1 PC DS. PEGASUS SOLID CRADLE MOUNTS. 486RWHP/475RWTQ.LOTS MORE.
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01-06-2024, 04:44 PM
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#4 |
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Drives: 2010 Camaro SS , 2011 Colorado LS1 Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 827
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I know for a lot of people, methods are a touchy subject. That's why I was hoping to get a discussion going.
I normally let the surfaces soak in seafoam, hit it very gently with a carbide scraper ( one that I know is flat and doesn't scratch) then wipe clean and go from there. Fine scotch brite to knock down any high spots. BrakeKleen all the surfaces and go from there. I don't trust myself with any type of grinder or power tool. I am debating if I should get a or make longboard sanding device to hit it flat. And of course grit is another topic. I've seen people go anywhere from 220 to 2000. People say MLS gaskets need something to bite on.... Of course extra care to keep sanding "grit" out of the motor. That's why I did this thread, what is the forum opinion on this touchy topic. 
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01-06-2024, 04:50 PM
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#5 |
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All I've used on the various builds that I have done is the green Scotch-Brite (R) pad and brake parts cleaner. To this day, never have had a sealing issue with the MLS/Cometic gaskets that I've used. Also, my personal builds are both boosted (~11psi on one, and 16psi on the other.)
-Scott
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745RWHP/634RWTQ on 93 @ 10psi
806/676 on E85 @ 10psi  COTW 9/8/14 |
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01-06-2024, 05:01 PM
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#6 | |
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Drives: 2010 Camaro SS , 2011 Colorado LS1 Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 827
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Quote:
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01-07-2024, 06:49 AM
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#7 |
Drives: 2010 Turbo LS3 Join Date: Dec 2009
Location: Palm Bay, FL
Posts: 2,736
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On LS engines, the MLS gaskets don't leave that much behind so the green pads always worked for me with a little solvent. I'm also not looking for it to be visually perfect like it was freshly machined. If it passes the fingernail test, I'm good. I would be too scared to sand on aluminum engine parts. On old cast iron heads I used to wire wheel stuck pieces of those old header gaskets off. Mind you I'm an old computer nerd, not an engine builder.
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2010 SS - On3 kit with downpipe cutout, CTR 78/80, CompCam 239/251 620/632 122+4, E85, Z28 suspension and ZL1 diff with Outlaw axles. Gen6 ZL1/1LE brakes.
2011 Vert - 416/w 230/236 .612/.602 115lsa, 1LE suspension w/32mm rear bar. Z28 diff. ZL1 brakes. |
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01-08-2024, 10:25 AM
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2&THEHIT
Drives: 5th Gen Camaro; 5th Gen Ram 3500 Join Date: Mar 2018
Location: Garner, NC
Posts: 1,013
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Agree with y'all... Greenie and a solvent. I use simple green for everything and brake parts cleaner to get rid of everything.
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01-09-2024, 06:26 PM
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#9 |
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Drives: 2010 Camaro SS , 2011 Colorado LS1 Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 827
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Good info here guys! Anyone else got input? Looks like the green scotch-brite is winning.
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01-10-2024, 02:21 AM
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#10 |
Drives: 2015 Summit White 2SS 1LE Join Date: Feb 2012
Location: Vance Alabama
Posts: 8,019
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I too use Scotchbrite and O'Reilly brake clean
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Retired wanna be cylinder head porter
2015 2SS 1LE Clutch reservoir, Vararam DRX, ported TB, TSP 2" headers, MGW shifter Totalled: 2010 1SS Wilkes Performance/Eagle 416 shortblock, TSP custom valvetrain, PRC 260 heads, Edelbrock Pro Flo 102, th400 swap, 8" PTC 5500 stall= 535/435 at the wheels tuned Gen 3 Performance and Dyno 10.97 @ 124 full weight in 3100 DA CamaroFest X |
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01-10-2024, 05:54 AM
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#11 | |
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Drives: 2010 Camaro SS , 2011 Colorado LS1 Join Date: Jan 2022
Location: Greenville, SC
Posts: 827
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Quote:
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01-10-2024, 06:20 AM
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#12 | |
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Drives: 2012 Chevrolet Camaro l99 Join Date: Aug 2020
Location: Austin, TX
Posts: 2,105
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Quote:
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DSS FX Forged Pistons, Eagle ESP L19 Forged Rods, ARP Head and Main Studs, TSP PRC 260 CNC Ported Heads milled .030, Cometic .040 Head Gaskets, GPI SS3 VVT Camshaft, GM Performance Racing Lifters, CHE Trunnions , Molly Pushrods, Melling 10355HV Oil Pump, Cold Air Inductions CAI, Fast LSXR Intake Manifold, Nick Williams 103 TB, TSP 1 7/8" Longtubes with 3" TSP Exhaust, ZL1 Fuel Pump, Mishimoto Radiator, Mishimoto Oil Cooler, Tru Cool 40k Tranny Cooler, 3600 Circle D Converter, Fluid Dynamics Balancer
Build Thread https://www.camaro5.com/forums/showthread.php?t=609817 |
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01-10-2024, 07:41 AM
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#13 |
Drives: 2013 Camaro 2SS AGM Join Date: Apr 2020
Location: WNY
Posts: 733
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Here is a good article. Fel-Pro calls for a 50-60 Ra micro inch finish. I have also seen 70 Ra or better for aluminum.
https://www.felpro.com/en-ca/technic...ce-finish.html
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2013 2SS GPI built & tuned 415, spec'd by Andrew Cammer. GPI ported intake/tb/heads, Tooley springs, CHE trunnions, Callies rotating assembly, Diamond pistons, GPI SS3 VVT, ATI 10% ud damper, Circle D 3800, Kooks ceramic coated lt's with green cats, Mishimoto rad & oil cooler, Derale trans cooler, Holley efi rails.
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01-11-2024, 09:40 AM
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#14 |
Drives: 2015 zl1 m6 Join Date: Jan 2020
Location: Alaska
Posts: 702
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I used a green scotchbrite and plastic razor blade with WD-40 to clean the carbon off and used denatured alcohol to wipe it down before installing the head gasket .
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791whp 699 ft lbs torque on E30 - ported sc /heads by boost mode racing - PAT G cam /Tune
PB:10.7 @133.9 |
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