Alan_Thomas
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| posted on 6/5/08 at 04:35 PM |
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Cleaning Ally Cylinder Heads - How?
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
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andylancaster3000
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| posted on 6/5/08 at 05:03 PM |
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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.
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mr henderson2
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| posted on 6/5/08 at 05:05 PM |
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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
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Richard Claydon
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| posted on 6/5/08 at 08:12 PM |
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Stick it in the dishwasher.....but don't tell my Mrs I said so!!
Rich
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mark chandler
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| posted on 6/5/08 at 08:55 PM |
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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.
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Alan_Thomas
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| posted on 7/5/08 at 10:46 AM |
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quote:
Originally posted by Richard Claydon
Stick it in the dishwasher.....but don't tell my Mrs I said so!!
Rich
Rich, I had thought of that, and pointed out that it was no worse than the dish the sunday roast is cooked in, but she still voiced (very loudly!) her
displeasure at the idea. Thinks - She will be out for at least 3hrs on thursday! 
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britishtrident
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| posted on 8/5/08 at 11:49 AM |
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Submerge for a few hours in vinegar or phosphoric acid (Cilit Bang).
[I] What use our work, Bennet, if we cannot care for those we love? .
― From BBC TV/Amazon's Ripper Street.
[/I]
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thomas4age
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| posted on 11/5/08 at 07:22 AM |
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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
If Lucas made guns, Wars wouldn't start either.
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nickharding
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| posted on 31/5/12 at 09:56 PM |
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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.
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wombat
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 posted on 1/6/12 at 06:02 AM |
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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 !
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shaft
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| posted on 1/6/12 at 06:32 AM |
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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.
my opinion might be wrong you know...
My Zero Build Pics
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Peteff
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| posted on 1/6/12 at 08:38 AM |
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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
Don't use caustic cleaners on aluminium, they dissolve it completely and you'll never get all of it out of all the channels so it will
probably damage other parts as well. Just google aluminium caustic and watch some videos.
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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Irony
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| posted on 1/6/12 at 10:43 AM |
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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
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wombat
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| posted on 1/6/12 at 11:57 AM |
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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.
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Irony
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| posted on 1/6/12 at 04:21 PM |
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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.
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DIY Si
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| posted on 1/6/12 at 06:20 PM |
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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!
Let your plans be dark and as impenetratable as night, and when you move, fall like a thunderbolt.
Sun Tzu, The Art of War
My new blog: http://spritecave.blogspot.co.uk/
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aquablastcenter
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| posted on 3/7/12 at 10:51 PM |
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Aqua & Soda blasting for engine / gearbox etc
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
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Peteff
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| posted on 4/7/12 at 08:09 AM |
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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
yours, Pete
I went into the RSPCA office the other day. It was so small you could hardly swing a cat in there.
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aquablastcenter
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| posted on 4/7/12 at 09:11 AM |
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Nice one - custard on mine please
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rusty nuts
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| posted on 4/7/12 at 06:59 PM |
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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. And you can make a nice crumble after
British Trident has posted several times about using boiled rhubarb leaves to clean ally parts IIRC
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