Would you use a wire wheel on cylinder heads, head gasket surface?

[Gregski]

got some used iron cylinder heads from a junkyard and wonder if I can use a wire wheel on them to clean up the head gasket surface

[65standard]

I wouldn't on aluminum heads. Alloy too soft.
Iron heads should be okay

[barry1982]

I have cleaned cast iron heads/block surfaces many times with a wire wheel. Works great! I imagine you will be spinning the wheel with a disc grinder? Be careful near the edges, and ports. If you get too close to an edge, the wheel "bites" hard jerking the tool in your hands and can even take off a little metal.

[lkfldredneck]

Should be alright to use on iron. After cleaning up id check for cracks with a en electro magnet and some crack powder (No, not that crack!). Could save you a whole lotta pain in the future.

If you want them looking good till the first fire id suggest a resurface. Mine looked amazing when i resurfaced the heads on my 94



I went all out on those heads though, Im doubting your going to.

Hot tank dipped, pressure steam washed, bead blasted, pressure steam washed again, 3 angle cut valve seats, brass valve guides, ground valves, resurfaced, port and polished to match the intake, new valve o-rings, umbrella seals, and spring shims. a lot of work into the heads for little gain. That was all done in my dads shop (which happened to be a professional engine building shop, at the time)

[snaptoo]

yes on iron and some of 3m roloc scuff pads really do well here!

[enaberif]

Use the brass ones and you will be fine. Just make sure you cover up any and all ports where small pieces can fall into lol.

Roloc discs are $$$ and not worth it in my opinion.

[Gregski]

well decided to go for it on these Vortec GM heads part # 12558062 from a 99 Suburban, and I like the results, good enuff fer me, used a 4" wheel on an angle grinder for the gasket surface, and put no pressure on it just the weight of the tool, then used a cup brush on a drill for the valves and chambers

[lkfldredneck]

They look good for a quick job. Hope you buy good gaskets after that haha

[Gregski]

Originally Posted by lkfldredneck

They look good for a quick job. Hope you buy good gaskets after that haha

GM 10105117 should do the trick

[enaberif]

Do yourself a favor and spend some extra time and port match the ports to your gaskets and ensure that the surfaces for the intake manifold are dead flat.