Originally posted by speed:
I'd like to throw in my 2 cents worth; BEFORE you pull the spark plugs,use a compressor or air tank and blow gun and blow the loose crud away from the plugs. I loosen each plug about half a turn to loosen the debris,then go through and blow the caked oil and dirt away from the plugs,so it won't have a chance to fall into the cylinders when you remove the plugs. same goes for the built up junk around the lower edge of the valve cover,the carb,etc. It's all about keeping contaminants out of your newly acquired engine.
Thats REAL good advice.. a big glob of crud down in the cylinder would not be cool.
All three of the engines i've brought back after sitting 20+ years had a significant layer of greasy oily dried dirt on them, and took more than air to clean them.. the '46 I had to use a putty knife to get most of the crud off and it came off in thick layers.
In the '50 3100 and the '52 Do*ge, I put a plastic bag over the distributor and carb and sprayed the crap out of them with Engine Brite, then after soaking for a bit, hit 'em with a pressure washer.. that got 'em nice and clean.
