What do I do to clean the block?

[Hrududu]

I have finished my tear down and have had my head surfaced. I am looking at the pistons and block here below the head, and it is nasty. all black with peices of the old head and a few deposits in some spots. What is safe to use to clean all this off? I don't want to get anything in the cylinders that mey damage them. This crap is on here tight, so I need to get it off with something before I get the head on. What should I use?

[san_maru_zed]

For the block deck, just use a razor blade (no not the type you shave with).

I have finished my tear down and have had my head surfaced. I am looking at the pistons and block here below the head, and it is nasty. all black with peices of the old head and a few deposits in some spots. What is safe to use to clean all this off? I don't want to get anything in the cylinders that mey damage them. This crap is on here tight, so I need to get it off with something before I get the head on. What should I use?

[beandip]

I have finished my tear down and have had my head surfaced. I am looking at the pistons and block here below the head, and it is nasty. all black with peices of the old head and a few deposits in some spots. What is safe to use to clean all this off? I don't want to get anything in the cylinders that mey damage them. This crap is on here tight, so I need to get it off with something before I get the head on. What should I use?

What are you doing to the engine? Are you just doing a valve job? If this is all , just scrape off the top of the block . Keep stuff from falling down the water jackets and oil passages this is vary importent. A putty knife will work on the block. I hope you wedged the timing chain , other wise the front of the engine must come off to reload the tensioner. use some compressed air or a vacuum cleaner to clear any chunks out of the cylinders.

[c david]

i'm not saying i could do it twice or even prove that i did it once, but believe it or not.

i tightend my chain with the front cover on. serisously

cd

[ChrisA]

Hi Chris,

I don't know how equipped your home shop is, but here's what I do. Use a good putty knife first. Taking care to keep the debris out of any water and oil passages. If you get stuff on top of a cylinder, don't worry too much. You can suck that out with a shop vac later.

When I have most of the heavy debris off the block deck I then use a 3M Roloc Bristle Discs in a high speed drill or die grinder. You can vary the grit rating on these items because you don't want to gouge the deck. Remember its iron, so you wont remove a lot of material unless you go crazy.

The most important thing to remember is to keep the tool moving across the deck so you dont get low spots that keep the head gasket from sealing. Its like sanding a board in shop class. Smooth and steady motion. You'll clean that block up and it'll look like jewelry when your done. Then like I said use your shop vac to clean out on top of the pistons.

You can find these discs at auto body supply houses and auto parts stores. Make sure you get the adapter to fit the disc to the tool you're using.

Hope this helps!

Much luck,

Chris A.

[nwcubsman]

Chris,

Very cool. I had not seen these before. Thanks for the info and pic.

[ChrisA]

Thanks for the info and pic.

Hi Bryan,

You're welcome. They are nifty items. Use them for almost anything that needs cleaning. Strip metal, wood, tile, you name it. They dont fly apart like a wire wheel does and they are gentler on the surface also.

I'm a parts man at a Mack Truck dealership and our technicians taught me how to use them. They are indispensable when it comes to cleaning mating surfaces of parts that connect with gaskets.

You just want to becareful with the grit selection. They range from mild to wild. The aggresive ones will take metal off if you apply enough pressure. But they sure do make a clean surface.

I should also mention to Chris that when you get the surface stripped, to wipe it down with some type of degreaser. The cleaner the better when it comes to gasket sealing.

FWIW,

Chris A.

[nwcubsman]

Pretty good info coming out of Moronville, Moronovia these days!

[ChrisA]

Pretty good info coming out of Moronville, Moronovia these days!

I have my moments! :stupid:

[matria]

Are you taking the lower end of the engine apart? If not, I would not use the system described above because you will never be able to get your cylinders clean enough. Scrap off as much as you can and clean out really well.

[ChrisA]

I would not use the system described above because you will never be able to get your cylinders clean enough. Scrap off as much as you can and clean out really well.

To each his own I guess. Having done it myself and seeing it done on internal combustion engines with pistons still in the bores on a daily basis I won't hesistate to do it. But again, not arguing. Just giving my own experience here.

As with any do-it-yourself repair at home its do-at-your-own-risk.

Chris A.

Cant load a PDF file for some reason, anyone have any hints?

[Fun_in_my_z]

I probably have the engine he did this to. And ive ran it hard, No doubt he has to

Ive had 0 troiuble out of it. (if you dont count bad oil pressure)

I can probaby get some degreaser stuff for you that will take the grease off anything.

I use it at work to clean the floors. But you only want to use this it you are rebuilding the whole engine.