soda blasting to clean?

[Blackdog455]

Since i dont really want to fork out any money; i do have a blast cabinet. Could i soda blast my cylinder heads? will they be fine afterwords? The engine doesnt need to be rebuilt and im going to port and polish the heads myself; i just want to avoid a machine specialist for now. Call me cheap.

That and does anyone know how to get sludge and all that grime off of the engine block? would like to do this at home as well. I have the cylinder heads off to where i can see the pistons; could i potentially tape all the holes shut and sand blast the block? any potential hazard to the engine if i were to do this?

 

[Jason_J]

Hey, I soaked my heads in EvapoRust overnite when I rebuilt my motor and they came out looking like new. And, foamy engine cleaner worked good on the block, then I cleaned it with laquer thinner and painted it.

 

[yyc_tbird_sc]

I don't think this would be a problem, but I wouldn't blast the machined finish on the bottom of the heads. The is a specific cut to help seal with the head gaskets.

If the gunk is on there though, I would recommend taking them to your local car wash, hitting them with a good engine degreaser and then going nuts with a pressure washer. Be sure that you've disassembled them first. If you try to blast the heads with grease and stuff on there, the grease will absorb the media you're using and just get pushed around for a while.

If you're going through the trouble of cleaning them up to this point, be sure to hit them with some paint to help keep them looking half decent. I like just an aluminum color engine paint.

 

[Blackdog455]

thanks for the help!

 

[zukirider21]

i would suggest just going to a local machine shop and having them hot tanked. it does suuuuuch a nice job and it'll only cost you like $25 or so...

EDIT: i know you wanna do it at home, but trust me man its a bitch to clean greasy casting and hot tanking will make them like new. its definitely worth it if youre gonna be handling them alot to port and polish...

 

[Tedybear]

i would suggest just going to a local machine shop and having them hot tanked. it does suuuuuch a nice job and it'll only cost you like $25 or so...

EDIT: i know you wanna do it at home, but trust me man its a bitch to clean greasy casting and hot tanking will make them like new. its definitely worth it if youre gonna be handling them alot to port and polish...

I'll go one more. Spend a few extra over the $25ish and have a machine shop tank the heads, inspect for warps..and check for micro cracks. Last thing you want to do is go cheap on such a large job. It sucks if you spend all that time and $$ just to find you've installed a warped head....or it cracks shortly after reinstall.

S-

 

[kimcrwbr1]

If your gonna port them yourself you need to be precise. I have read using liquid to show the displacement in the ports is the most accurate. plug the valve guide and intake/exhaust ports and measure the amount of liquid it takes to fill the port to the valve seat to make them even. I will normally just lap the valves put new seals in and slap it back together just make sure the valve guides are within spec and never had a problem. Make sure the mating surfaces are good and flat and clean when you install the heads, intake manifold,valve covers then plug all the holes and clean the block good and paint it all together. Do the research on porting the heads if you cant do it right dont do it. I dont think it will do any good anyway unless your gonna put a custom cam in anyway.

 

[Blackdog455]

Where in Maple Valley are you kimcrwbr1?

anyways, about the heads. Probably smart for me to get them professionally done. The block was already looked over and is in great shape, so all i need to do is clean that one up.

I wanted to port and polish the heads myself just for practice purposes. Been doing a lot of research on porting and polishing heads and it seems doable for an at home job. My main concern right now is getting all the grime and gunk off of the heads and engine.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

Where in Maple Valley are you kimcrwbr1?

anyways, about the heads. Probably smart for me to get them professionally done. The block was already looked over and is in great shape, so all i need to do is clean that one up.

I wanted to port and polish the heads myself just for practice purposes. Been doing a lot of research on porting and polishing heads and it seems doable for an at home job. My main concern right now is getting all the grime and gunk off of the heads and engine.

I`m a few blocks away from the plamor by elk run GC. A good pressure washer will knock all the big stuff off the block and goop engine cleaner works good enough after a couple of applications. as far as the heads gasoline in a pan with a good brush works just fine then blast them with water and air to keep them from rusting until you can get some paint on them. I`m not into pretty as long as it holds oil and coolant and the vacuum is good. A rattle can works just fine for me.

 

[Blackdog455]

ahhhh your'e by elk run. Im in Hobart...kind of on Issaquah Hobart road. Well...near there.

If i were to plug every hole wouldnt sandblasting the engine work? I heard goop is really good. I might give that a try as well.

 

[kimcrwbr1]

ahhhh your'e by elk run. Im in Hobart...kind of on Issaquah Hobart road. Well...near there.

If i were to plug every hole wouldnt sandblasting the engine work? I heard goop is really good. I might give that a try as well.

It depends on what your goal is but sand blasting sounds extreme to me. What engine are you working on and is it out of the truck.