Cleaning surface of the head

[CJHenderson]

Knowing that the head of the motor is aluminum, how would I get parts of the head gasket off? You can't use any metal on the surface and the plastic scrappers are pretty much useless.

[Cees Klumper]

I have used Permatex gasket remover for this purpose; chemical stuff that was quite effective (spray on, let sit and after a while a plastic scraper should get the remnants right off). Sort of like paint stripper, but specially made for gaskets.
 

[wayne R]

CJ, No  problem using metal removing head gaskets,and on Aluninuim ,been doing it for years,
Buy a new scraper i have a Wilde  USA brand, this is what you do,.
You carefully purposely blunt the cutting edge of your scraper,about the same as a really blunt knife,
with a smooth file,and also the  end edges of the scraper.
THen it works really well,no problem at all, over the years i did 3 Alfas, 1 etype Jaguar,2 Porsche, and alot of american
cars, i use a Little brake clean  doing it,as it evaporates and cleans while doing the job.

[ja17]

If your head is going to the machine shop, they will soak it in a hot tank and it will come out clean and looking new.

[Benz Dr.]

I only clean one enough to be able to use my straight edge on it to see if it's flat or not. Very few ever are.

[CJHenderson]

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. What I plan on is soaking it with CRC gasket cleaner and then a sanding block with Emery cloth around it. One stroke around then repeat it until I can get no light under the straight edge.