I'm ready to install the heads on my 99 Cirrus V6 and would welcome some advice. Its an iron block and I need to get the surface clean for the new gasket. This was never an issue for me before because I could wash the block, but this is a short block, still in the car with pistons and all. I've got rags in the pistons, but what about the oil galleys? What tools? Wire wheel, scotchbrite pad or wheel, steel wool? Thanks

 

Mopar actually used to supply a scotchbrite pad a chemical cleaner with a head set for the 1gen neons, so I would go that route less chance of scratching things up.

 

Wire wheel is good if you can get use of a variable speed angle grinder. They are awesome when turned down a little and don't have the tendency to throw wires or dig and pull as much. If you have an air die grinder or electric with the collet attachment for the little round scotch brite pads, that works really well with a citrus based degreaser, even better if someone can hold the shop vac nozzle close to the work surface to hoover up the dust/crap.

 

Thanks guys! Scotch-brite "Ro-Loc's" did the trick! Heads installed! Didnt have a metric tap large enough to clean-out the head bolt holes first. A toolmaker at work showed me how to make a "thread-cleaning" tap out of a old head bolt. I LOVE that kind of tech!

 

put 3 cuts on the end of the bolt,