Another one of my least favorite jobs.

Does modern science offer an easy solution?

If not... i will break out the dreaded scrapers and...where did i leave... the...ah... elbow grease.

Does any body use wire wheels, scotch bright discs, etc?

 

You can try solvent to make a gasket easier to remove (like paint remover). Been a while since I've worked on ano lder car with the paper type gaskets. Acetone should also work fine and doesn't leave a residue like paint remover.

I normally stay away from wire wheels or any type of auto-mechanical abrasive device. It's too easy to get carried away and pit the surface or over work an area to create a potential leak spot down the road.

A very sharp puty knife or scraper works just fine.

 

got time to come over and show me how to use a scraper?
i think i forgot how

 

I think a gasket scraper is you're best tool.

 

ok...ok...i'll look for the elbow grease.

i've used different gasket sealers...one thing stands out...RTV is the easiest to remove.

My new motto: When in doubt use RTV.

 

I use a roloc on my cordless drill with a scotchbrite pad on it. If you can ruin a mating surface with a scotch brite pad you shouldn't be doing the work anyway. One trick to keep in mind is when you are close to an edge make sure the pad is going off the edge not into the edge. It will keep you from tearing up pads. That rule applies to all types of sanding and grinding.

 

have some scotch bright wheels...half tempted to pick up some of those rolocs.

thats one of the small velcro pad systems that they give away at the hardware store right?

 

TWO WORDS: WD 40

Trust me spray it on liberally, wait, lift a corner of a gasket a bit, spray under, wait, lift another section a tiny bit, spray more WD on, use the red straw, wipe excess with a rag later, it will take a bit of time, but it works

wire wheels would be last resort as the bristles tend to fall out and their job is to get into the most difficult places to get out, if you can even keep track of where they go, definitely no to abrasives like sand paper

 

A wire brush chucked in a drill (or angle grinder if care is used) is a real time saver + it will add a little "tooth" to the surface for better sealing.

 

i can't see any problem w/ a lil tooth since i'm using RTV anyway.

Hey...i'm ready for global warming soon as i get my cam in and top down