The block cleaned up really easily overall, but these two areas are stuuuuborn. The most aggressive I’ve been so far is just using a very fine 3M pad per the Atlantic British head gasket video.

 

Also, there is definitely a very very small amount of putting I can barely feel with my fingernail right here. Big deal?

 

Alrighty, just kept up with the WD-40, 3M pad, and patience and eventually it all came off. This look good enough?

 

Well, not ideal, but given the choice between decking the block and putting it together I would put it together.

 

Not ideal, no, but there also wasn't any leakage there, which is a good sign I suppose. Is that just from PO not changing the coolant often enough? Or at all? When I got this disco, I had to basically replace every single replaceable cooling component because of how gummed up with old Dexcool it was.

Is that back water jacket clean enough too?

ALSO, ...so many questions... should I bother cleaning the tops of the pistons? Or just leave em?

 

I've had good luck building up pits like that with JB Weld, then filing smooth. It's sort of like a dental filling.

 

I'll just RTV both sides of the head gasket and call it good.








...jokes

 

The pitting is a little concerning. You can tell water was making it's way under the gasket, I'd be concerned with it trying to get into cyl #1 in the future. If you don't wanna skim the block, you could try to fill it in with something if it really bothers you.

If it were me though, I would just run it. Doesn't seem like you had any actual leakage into cylinder, so that's good at least. You definitely got it clean enough.

Did you check the block mating surface with a straight edge and feeler gauge to see if it was in spec? That would tell you if you needed to get it skimmed or not as well.

Also, as far as cleaning the pistons go, I've only done LS engines but I clean them every time. Not necessary, I'm just **** like that. Be careful about getting debris into water or oil passages in block, and I'd also recommend cleaning the head bolt holes out and using a thread chaser on them (don't use a tap, you specifically want a chaser).

 

Maybe consider the Copper gasket spray? I think it needs the right type of gasket material to stick to.

 

Yep, use copper gasket spray on the head gasket, not RTV.