The Stovebolt Site Forums The Shop Area Engine Shop clean up head using brake cleaner?

Well I'm going to try to bring the thread back to Ftyler's question. Since this is your first go-round maybe you should just clean the head with "kero" like Phat suggested and button her back up. My first question is how come you tore it down? Now Phat says you're playing with fire but didn't explain why. The reason you are playing with fire if you go to rebuilding just the head and reseating the valves is- this will increase the compression in the cylinder and there-by increase the pressure on the rings and bearings. The rings and bearings are used to operating at the old pressure and when this suddenly increases on them they will begin to wear heavily. I have had many people want "just a head or valve job" and I have advised them against this. I will not gaurentee just a head job on an old engine. It just won't work. You may be able to just lap in a valve or two and sneak by for a time, but otherwise you do need to do a complete rebuild. The reason that I suggest a person do their own rebuild versus a crate engine is multifold- first, I trust my work over somebody elses that I know nothing about (it is my engine so I know I will care more). Second, I like to know what is happening inside of "my" engine, and only by doing the work myself can this really be true. Third- there is the feeling of self-worth and pride (when you are driving down the road hearing an engine purr that you built yourself- Ahhh there is no finer feeling.) Fourth- there is the "learning" that takes place (it isn't as complicated as it seems, shucks if I can teach others how to rebuild their engine over the internet it really couldn't be to difficult to figure out)(and Phat can even do it- go figure.). If you decide to follow on and do your engine correct and rebuild it there are a few necessary things you "must" have- Locate a good parts house and have a good line of comunications with them on what you are doing. Locate and talk to a good (excellent) machinist in your area. Beg, borrow, buy or steal a shop manual for your engine, (a good place to look is on e-bay). Cojole or wheedle someone such as myself or Phat (Bruce) or Tony into tutoring you through this process. Just so that you have found someone with the expertise to help keep you from making mistakes, and also ask plenty of questions on the BB (there are many folks who know lots of cool tricks that can really help on this Board.) Do your engine right "keep it simple and go slow" and you will have an engine that will last a life time.

Do not- I reiterate- Do not rebuild the head without rebuilding the rest of the engine. (You'll be sorry).