Ok, I popped a head gasket on Saturday (at least that was when I noticed oil in the coolant res.), and Monday I got the head off and into the machine shop. Still waiting for them to get to that and let me know what the prognosis is, but until then I'm cleaning and painting things in anticipation of reassembly. (Yay! I'll have a nice-looking engine compartment at last!)


On that note, I'd like to get the 181,000 miles of carbon build-up off of the piston tops and the upper edges of the cylinders. What is the recommended method? I've wiped with ATF on a rag, carb cleaner on a rag, and scrubbed gently on #1 with a plastic brush and carb cleaner. It is sortof working, but it's really slow, and I won't be able to scrub down on 2-5 in the bore.

Also, I need to clean off the gasket material remnants on the block surface. Method and materials there? Is a gasket scraper and scotchbrite safe on that surface?

I have my long Q-tips for the bolt holes, and a nice air compressor, so I think I'm ok on the bolt holes.

Thoughts, tips for a HG-N00b?