<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sauceja &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">My machine shop charges me 10.00 to soak a head and misc parts in brake cleaner solution overnight and comes out around 99% clean.

Better than heads here.

But no doubt for smaller parts and such this looks like a good method. I got my part washer for 20.00 from a local guy and filled it with 1 part heavy duty degreaser and 1 part water.
For engine it says to use 1:4 mix. Whoops, I ran out of room for the water. Anyway I put some pistons in it for about an hour and they came out all grey and the coating was completely eaten away.
These were spares so no loss but I say this because:

You need to be careful what parts you put into what chemicals. Use spare parts first sometimes especially like cams and such that are expensive to replace.

Good find though for DIY budget builder. </TD></TR></TABLE>

$10 thats great but sad fact is thats YOUR local shop only most likely, so for the guys who take their motors apart alot this is great for them its low cost, enviromentelly(sp) friendly, and NOT CAUSIC. this method also works very quickly and you have the convince of doing it at home .
also i dont really recommend leaving parts in brake solutions for no longer than maybe a hour; like you said it eats away the top layer of coating and weakens certain metal alloys.
also the head that i was cleaning was subject to about over a 110K of hard abuse that finally blew a piston and bend about 3 valves, somehow the head is still in great shape and being sent out to be p-n-p

thanks for your comments tho and everyone else's feedback with that being said lets see some pics guys/girls

 

I agree with you totally. I am still a DIY'er. Just for the heads I have cleaned I take it to them. They soak them and rinse them off and spray wd-40 on them.
It is a 25 minute drive one way there also.

But I have taken many items to them over the last 2 years.

However like said finding an older used parts washer I can finally stand up and clean parts. I have came along ways.

I am old school and my last parts washer was a coffee can and gasoline. So I know what you mean and this is a great idea because I wondered how many people really did take pride in there work and actually cleaned parts up the way they are supposed to be before putting it all back together.

Cuz I know kids around here that probably don't know how to wipe their *** let alone clean motor parts before putting them back on.

Like I said, Good find and Good Writeup.

 

so i just got my motor and its real dirty and b4 i put it in my car i would like to clean it up a bit but i dont want to dissassemble it at all any meothods i can use and cleaners like ie a toof brush and water lol please help me thanks guys

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by sauceja &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">I agree with you totally. I am still a DIY'er. Just for the heads I have cleaned I take it to them. They soak them and rinse them off and spray wd-40 on them.
It is a 25 minute drive one way there also.

But I have taken many items to them over the last 2 years.

However like said finding an older used parts washer I can finally stand up and clean parts. I have came along ways.

I am old school and my last parts washer was a coffee can and gasoline. So I know what you mean and this is a great idea because I wondered how many people really did take pride in there work and actually cleaned parts up the way they are supposed to be before putting it all back together.

Cuz I know kids around here that probably don't know how to wipe their *** let alone clean motor parts before putting them back on.

Like I said, Good find and Good Writeup. </TD></TR></TABLE>

thanks, lmfao nice if you ever want to do the block i found that a 25 or 30 gallon container works wonders i'll get the dimensions if your interested ?

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by ekBlackHatch &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">so i just got my motor and its real dirty and b4 i put it in my car i would like to clean it up a bit but i dont want to dissassemble it at all any meothods i can use and cleaners like ie a toof brush and water lol please help me thanks guys </TD></TR></TABLE>

easiest thing to do is take some simple green or the same cleaner i listed at the start, rub the block with it really good let it sit for about 5-10 min. increments and pressure wash it off. make sure you cover all electrical components and open hole that lead into the motor. have fun feel free to PM or post

 

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by tony413 &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">easiest thing to do is take some simple green or the same cleaner i listed at the start, rub the block with it really good let it sit for about 5-10 min. increments and pressure wash it off. make sure you cover all electrical components and open hole that lead into the motor. have fun feel free to PM or post </TD></TR></TABLE>

Agreed. Also leave oil pan and other items still ON the block so crap doesn't get into openings when you spray water.
Simple green, engine bright foamer stuff like that.

Wire brushes help, get the 3 pack at autozone or something. Time and patience and sore arms/fingers the next day if you block is really nasty.

You could also go the the quarter washes and spray down the engine and use the pressure there. Just leave engine running if you spray water on hot motor. Thats what I do sometimes.

 

Wow thats sweet. i love the before and after

 

thanks alot

 

i dont have access to a powerwasher anyother options?

 

take a bucket fill with the cleaning solution you plan on using and scrub the motor with a toliet bowl brush that way you can reach everywhere pretty good and then just take a regular hose and rinse it off really good, but please avoid the electro areas