Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! She not got a clue !
I have a couple of old heads that are unskimmed and unmolested but they have been standing many a year with a couple of the valves open and so some
of the chambers and ports are covered in a white corrosion.
What is the best way of cleaning these up. Can I make up a hot caustic solution that clean them up? - Alan
When we have had engine machining done by the local machine shop they tend to put the heads/parts in a steam bath to clean them first, it cleans them up a treat. It may be worth finding one local to you and aking if they could clean it up. Don't suppose theyre charge much.
If the professional cleanng isn't available, I have found that WD40 and Scotchbrite (the maroon grade) work very well in combination with elbow grease
Stick it in the dishwasher.....but don't tell my Mrs I said so!!
Rich
Head reconditioner I used last year has a commercial dishwasher and puts everything in that. Works a treat.
For myself I purchased some patio cleaner and through my really grubby rv8 heads in a bucket filled with that. Came out a bit pickled but all the
horrible black goo was gone.
quote:
Originally posted by Richard Claydon
Stick it in the dishwasher.....but don't tell my Mrs I said so!!
Rich
Submerge for a few hours in vinegar or phosphoric acid (Cilit Bang).
WD40 and Scotchbrite works a treat!
I recently did my G50 box this way and it came out very nice.
I thought there was something in using chemicals and heat, the alloy goes pitting or cracking overtime or something, it was dicussed here a few weeks
back but I can't find the post.
Grtz Thomas
Shotblasting/bead blasting is brilliant, especially if you plan to relap the valves in to get perfect seats. Depends how much you plan to strip the head down mind.
I put my ali sump in the dishwasher last week prior to going for welding, cleaned with petrol then de-greaser first. Came up great
and................
Shhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! She not got a clue !
Swarfega and a toothbrush work well. Rinse with the hose as you go and its easy to see where you've been.
Just remember to keep giving the valve guides a squirt with wd40 as you go to stop red rusting.
quote:
Originally posted by Alan_Thomas
I have a couple of old heads that are unskimmed and unmolested but they have been standing many a year with a couple of the valves open and so some of the chambers and ports are covered in a white corrosion.
What is the best way of cleaning these up. Can I make up a hot caustic solution that clean them up? - Alan
Frosts do a Ali Cleaner/restorer that works a treat. Really good. Be careful of all these people suggesting putting it in the dishwasher. When I have but ally stuff in the dishwasher it has got it clean but you have to be there when the cycle finishes. In fact I open the dishwasher before the drying cycle finishes and then dry with towels. Immediately get some form of sealant on it or it will oxidise within minutes. Guess how I know
Good point, yes thats what I did, got it out before end of cycle and dried it off completely.
There again it was only so didnt get caught.
The SWMBO would've hit the roof if she saw me put my sump and bellhousing in the dishwasher. It smelt a bit oily afterwards so I put it on again empty on a hot wash.
Having been looking at this of late for a pair of V6 heads, I rang a local engineering company today. They said, without seeing them, that if they aqua blast them it's £35, and at most £60 if they end up having to soda blast. For that price to get them sparkly clean, I'm happy to let someone else do the hard work for once!
There are two safe and easy ways to clean / restore engine and gearbox parts.
1. Aqua Blasting with silicon bead
This will remove road dirt, corrosion and most staining from alloy.
All parts must have bearings, seals and moving parts removed.
Parts need degreasing and paint removing before blasting
2. Soda Blasting
A dry blast process that is ideal for removing oil deposits, paint and general road dirt
Parts can be cleaned without the need to dismantle, so from cylinder heads to
complete engines can be cleaned and prepared for painting.
Details can be found at http://www.aquablastcenter.com
My wife was cooking some rhubarb in an aluminium pan the other day and the pan now looks like new so I reckon boiling it in some water with rhubarb
should do the job. 
And you can make a nice crumble after
Nice one - custard on mine please
quote:
Originally posted by Peteff
My wife was cooking some rhubarb in an aluminium pan the other day and the pan now looks like new so I reckon boiling it in some water with rhubarb should do the job.