I recently installed a drilled 180 degree thermostat in the 98 LeSabre.

I found that the old paper gasket was in tatters, but some of those bits were quite stuck to the engine. I had to scrape them off with a razorblade...CAREFULLY of course, followed up with some very fine emery cloth.

Now for the tip: to keep the gasket bits from falling into the engine, I stuffed an old sock into the hole while I scraped. When I pulled out the sock, all the little gasket bits came out with it.

(Nothing new for old pro'* I'm sure, but I thought I was pretty smart!)

Little tid bits of information like this can go a long ways. Thanks for posting this!

I've been using a paper towel or two for the same reason for years. Learned it from my auto shop teacher in High school. Works great.

I prefer to use those cheap red shop towels you find at Wally World and Autozone. They don't break apart like paper towels do. And you can reuse them over and over and over and over and over and over and over.

I use a scotchbrite pad on a die grinder.

Me and you both Boosty, We buy 3 24 packs of those Rolloc Discs at work, they mechanics use them almost non stop, nothing works better and faster

Blue shop paper towels won't come apart for WEEKS in coolant.

If you're terminally anal, like me, I use a shop vac around the area before pulling my wadded-up socks out of the hole. Helps keep crap from falling in and you don't have to wash your socks before putting them back on.

If you were really anal, you would squeeze some varnish through your panty-hose and stuff them in the hole like I do. The sticky surface catches and holds all kinds of chips on the way out so they really sparkle when you put 'em back on.

*Searches garage for a can of varnish*