Hi what is the best method of cleaning the cylinder head where it meets the head gasket?
could i get away with using a drill and wire wheel ?

 

Bump

 

I've always used a blunt scraper blade, plenty of patience.

I wouldn't use a wire wheel on anything alloy

 

What sort of muck are you trying to get rid of? If it's just remants of old gasket, a gasket scraper will do you fine. As above, anything than can scar the alloy is best avoided.

 

ive removed the gasket remnants but it still looks dirty and wasn't sure if i needed to get it really clean

 

It doesn't need to be polished, no, but it DOES need to be clean.

A gasket scraper, as above. I've always used a blunted wallpaper scraper, with the sharp corners ground off.

 

Great thanks for that i will leave it at that then lol

what about cleaning the heads after doing the scraping any suggestions do they need flushing and if so with what is water ok so long as its dried afterwards ?

Thanks in advance

 

If you've got them stripped, cams off, valves out, I'd clean them with a good degreaser, (Wickes paintbrush CLEANER, the blue stuff, and a stiff paintbrush, works well), then flush with copious amounts of VERY hot water, tipping the heads this way and that to allow water to drain out, and leave to dry in a warm place.

If you've had the heads off because of bearing failure, or similar, (anything that can leave damaging swarf), it would be a good idea to have everything cleaned prefessionally.

 

Lovely thanks i will get that done