The old gasket comes right off, I just use a 2000 grit sand paper and a true block and make a few passes, letting the sand paper do the work, then I spray it down with carb cleaner, then blow it off with compressed air, then I clean thoroughly with Acetone...Also send the heads out for a valve job and a heat tank bath ...Maker sure you plug the cylinder bores with rags before cleaning up the block deck...DA snake boy!!!dicks 99 cobra said:I have decided that I am going to replace the head gaskets myself. I know I shouldn't use sandpaper to remove the old head gaskets. Any other tips?