OK, so this is my first time doing a head gasket on any vehicle. There some material on the left side that I think has to come off. It's bumpy and really hard. There was some gray gasket sealant on there next to it that came off, but the stuff on the end is still there. I almost want to say that someone put the gray gasket maker on that side to seal the actual gasket with that hard stuff.

 

I'm sure there was a question in there. Were you wanting to know what it is or how to remove it?

 

LOL yes that stuff on the edge. Does it need to come off? and How do I get it off?

 

You know them green plasticy scouring pads you have under the kitchen sink? That and some elbow grease. Maybe a liiiiiitle bit of soapy water.

 

thanks.

 

If it was me I would soak it with something and then try to "shave" it off with a razor blade type scraper. Not gouge the surface of course but a nice side angle shave

 

It's tough. tried a razor and it's bending it. Been scrubbing for 30 minutes and I'm barely making a dent. I'd be willing to bet something happened to the head or head gasket prior to me owning it, and they left this stuff on there and just put liquid make a gasket stuff on it to seal the new gasket to it. The gray make a gasket was only on that side, up against this stuff. It is baked on there. The liquid gasket came off fairly easy. I think I am going to try to get one of these from 3m. Or maybe try a little heat from a hair dryer.

https://www.amazon.com/3M-3M-18733-R...7265979&sr=1-4

 

I went through the same thing. Buy some spray gasket remover (I used CRC) , let it soak and it should come right off with a razor and a scour pad.

 

I had the same thing on my 2001 when I did the head gasket. I ended up using a wire wheel in a drill and carefully got it off.

 

Wire cup at the end of a die grinder.

Use rags to fill the cylinder bores and water jackets. Use a shop vac to suck debris from bolt holes and when pulling rags out.

Direct the wheel so that it blows debris away from the block, not into the block.

 

Someone recommended a wire wheel for time saving when I did my diffs. I tried to save a penny and used a razor. After two scrapes, I put down the razor went to Depot to get a cupped brass wheel. Turned an hour into two minutes. And I think brass is better for use on surfaces that you don't want to score/gouge? Might not be strong enough for this head gasket material though.

 

i think its rust bubbles

 

Thats the leftover metal gasket from before. I had to take mine off with a blade carefully and wear gloves.

 

 

right! i got a better close uplook. the pattern is too consistant to be rust.
first thought , wrong! hard to figure anything being so tough.