DOHC Head Removal

[345 DeSoto]

Still waiting for my books/pubs to arrive, but I need to get the heads off of the block NOW. I've got everything off of the engine except the heads. This might be old hat for most of you, but I have NO idea how to remove the chain drives to the heads or what to do/not to do while removing them. HELP! Also need to know how you guys clean up the gasket surfaces on the aluminum, without gouging them all up. Any chemicals I can use? On iron engines, I'd just have at it with the scraper and scotch brite disk, but this is aluminum. Thanks guys...

 

[Roadboss]

I would wait for the books to arrive as you should set up the crank position before you proceed to take the master link out and also pin the tensioner. The gaskets should pop off nice, you could use some brake cleaner to get any residue off with scotchbrite.