Partial rebuild question

[PW309]

I want to get others' opinion on a rebuild question. I recently purchased a 99 Ranger with the 3.0. The vehicle belonged to my niece, who ran the vehicle hot after loosing coolant due to a compromised radiator hose. Passenger side head is warped so I'm going to replace both heads. The cylinders and pistons are in great shape; the crosshatching is still very visible and the lobes of the cam look good. Here's my question... While removing the lifters for inspection and cleaning, some bits of carbon dropped down into the engine. I'll vacuum the cylinder bores throughly and what I was planning is to get a small sprayer filled with diesel fuel and throughly spray the intake valley, the lifter bores, the camshaft as well as I can access it, in order to wash any crud down into the oil pan, after which I'll empty it. Just wanted to get some feedback on this. I don't see anything getting in the bearings; I won't start the engine until everything is flushed, emptied, etc. Removing the engine to do a full disassembly is not on the table.

 

[superj]

sounds fine to me. but i do some things differently so maybe wait for some of the guys who do this more often than i do and know a more proper way

 

[SenorNoob]

I'd go ahead and vacuum everything you can. Then spray it. 2 cans of brake cleaner if it were me. Just spread a little oil back around the cam before you put it together. Could even use assembly lube everywhere you can reach. (Dry parts incur a lot of wear!)

 

[pjtoledo]

even small amounts of solvent screw up oil. with the engine fully disassembled parts can be dried so its ok.
dumping solvent into an intact engine can remove any oil film, really bad for dry starting.

I would prefer vacuuming and wiping with rags, poke at deposits with tools etc.
there is a big difference between wiping with solvent and spraying solvent. your engine, your choice.

can you get the pan off? physically cleaning it is best, you'll never get all the crap out by flushing it while attached.