i work at an automotive place that has its own heat treating area and they can also sand blast stuff for me...my question is...wha exactly can/should i heat treat? im thinking rods is a really good thing to harden...and is everything heat treated heated just to harden? the harder the better correct?

also...my friend can sand blast stuff in the building...i was thinking about sand blastin my whole motor...this is kinda a stupid question but if i sand blast the motor will it hard anything? rust? the block is bare...i would have to hone after? not eactly sure wha i can use to my advantage from work..can anybody point me in a good direction?

 

DO not, I repeat do not Heat treat anything in your engine.

First off to heat treat steel, you have to know what type it is, Cold rolled steel, H-13, S7, 4140, p-20. Ect Ect, which you do not. Some metals like P-20 and 4140 are already pre hardened. If you dont heat treat the specific steels properly you can weaken it, make it brittle, or melt it.

Harder is not always better, Harder means it will be easier to break. A good example is to take a piece of plastic, bend it. pretty easy. Now put it in the freezer for a day. Now do the same. It will break in half. Same princaple.

Leave the Internal workings of your engine alone heat treat wise. Most probably are already anyways.

 

wow...learn something new everyday...guess i got my heat treat question answered...anybody know about the sand blasting part?

 

I suppose you could sandblast the outside of the block. It would be a better idea to just clean it well. That way you dont have loose sand/ grit hanging around in the block. You wont be able to get all the sand and grit out. theres too many passageways and hidden little areas.

 

so its better to hot tank a motor than sand blast it?

 

how much does it usually cost for both anyways?

 

I agree - don't heat treat anything. If you want stronger/lighter parts - use forged internals.

I would hot tank a block if it needs cleaning/rebuilding. If it is sandblasted - hot tank it after to clean all the grit off - you don't want that grit in the cylinders.

Sand or media blasting is best for external body parts that are going to be painted after.