Head gasket removal

[Damomma]

Re: 78 3.0sc
How do I extract the head gasket from its sealing ring area on the top of the cylinder? I didn't want to pick around too hard with a scribe until I asked the question, fearing scratches to the surface. It is fully seated (stuck) in the top mating groove.

Thanks Jim

[Damomma]

Wayne's book doesn't say anything about removal, just not to forget them on reassembly. Any help out there?

Thanks, Jim

[Groesbeck Hurricane]

Jim,

Maybe not the best solution, but I used one of those plastic credit cards you get in the mail. They were sturdy enough to remove the gasket and not sturdy enough to damage the aluminum. You could use a current credit card also... I used a light emery cloth on the remains that were left behind. But be careful not to take off the metal. Hope this helps.

[john walker's workshop]

stick a sharp pointed awl, or penknife down next to the ring and pop it out. then carefully scrape the carbon out of the groove.

[Doug Zielke]

Originally posted by Damomma
Re: 78 3.0sc
How do I extract the head gasket from its sealing ring area on the top of the cylinder? I didn't want to pick around too hard with a scribe ....

Perhaps a scribe is too blunt?
I used a sharp dental pick (ask your friendly dentist....mine saves the unservicible ones for me).

Using the sharp point, it was fairly easy to raise a bit of the gasket, then pull it completely out of the groove. I used another chisel-like dental tool to clean out any debris left in the groove.

[Damomma]

Thanks much, I didn't want to get too rough and ruin something.

[garibaldi]

I recently had a high mileage motor I was doing and after using a pick to get most of the gasket out, had to mask the cylinder up and glass beaded the groove to remove the remaining carbon and debris out.

[Wayne 962]

Safety pin too, for those without a pocket knife or awl...

-Wayne