Ok sports fans, in the middle of a timing belt change so doing the water pump as well. What's the 411 and easy way of getting the old water pump gasket material off the block? Using a razor blade will take me a month because the gasket breaks off in little tiny pieces and really is a PITA. Thanks in advance for any info.

 

Razor, thats all I have used. Time consuming but it works.

 

+1 on that. You can try the razor with a spray-on gasket remover...that might shorten your time to 3 says or so...

 

Good gasket scraper and a gasket remover.

 

Thanks for all the responses. I've used razor blades in the past of course with great success. My initial problem was getting to the water pump housing from the top. I went from underneath and was able to get better access. Also used 0000 steel wool which worked great to get it really clean.

 

So I got the timing belt, water pump and tensioners/rollers in. Decided to test the info that sealant wasn't needed and it's correct. I didn't use sealant on it and it works great.
First timing belt and it really wasn't that bad. Hardest part was getting the old gasket material off the water pump housing.

 

I've found a wood chisel works great as a gasket scraper; have to be careful on aluminum though, can easily take off metal.

 

I like wood chisels as well. The water pump gasket is the safest because it's on the steel block, correct?

 

For gasket scrapers, Harbor Freight is a good place to get a set really cheap.
You don't have the room for it on a water pump but I recently learned that the 3M discs are deadly to intakes. I usually use a high speed pneumatic grinder with a small disc for removing almost anything I can reach. Always though the gasket material was harmless and never really though about the pad being abrasive. I was using the different grades of pad like the scotch brite material but I've learned they do contain some kind of grit !!! Opps.

You should not use them for anything in the intake system as the material they shed is abrasive and is harmful for valve guides, valve seats, valves, rings .... unless you're sure it wouldn't be ingested or the part you're working on is off the engine.