What is the best way to clean the head gasket surface on the block? Short block is still in the car and I don't want to get a lot of what I am getting off into the cylinders?

Murph

I worry more about the valley. Cover it up. You don't want a piece of crap landing on a lobe.

Irregardless of how you clean your decks you need to rotate the engine and wipe each bore after the piston goes through tdc. It will leave most of the crud at tdc. Do this repetitively. Then take light air pressure and blow around the perimeter of each piston.

I clean decks with scotch brite on a high speed grinder. Gets a smoother finish.

I put papertowels in each cylinder and up by the valley. Then I'd wipe the head mounting surface with a towel that was damp with brake cleaner. Then scrape with a gasket scraper.

Carefully remove the papertowels when done. Vacuum up any remnants. Then rotate engine as described above and wipe clean.

Thanks for the input guys. I already have the valley area covered. I'll give your suggestions a try.

Thanks,

Murph

Don't use a Scotch Brite or any abrasive pad near your cylinders or intake valley. They remove metal. Use a spray can of gasket remover and a sharp putty knife or razor blades. The residue from a scotch brite might hurt your cylinders.