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| | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 187 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 187 | Hi gang,
I'm tearing down a donor 292 cylinder head and want to really clean up the valves (which are in really good shape) and the bottom of the head. Is there any problem bead blasting these areas to remove all the years of baked on carbon and varnish?
Please advise???
Thanks, in advance!! | | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,745 Member | | Member Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 1,745 | I cleaned mine with a wire cup brush and a scraper. Seemed to work fine. [img] http://www.angelswest.com/_borders/headcrack.jpg[/img]
54 3100 with 235
62 flatbed dump C60 with 261
| | | | | Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,744 Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) | | Kettle Custodian (pot stirrer) Joined: Feb 2004 Posts: 29,744 | I beadblast valves all the time. If you're concerned with creating a rough surface on the valve stem, slip the part of the stem that runs in the valve guide into a piece of rubber tubing. (vacuum line, fuel line, etc.)
Jerry
"It is better to be silent and be thought a fool than to speak and eliminate all doubt!" - Abraham Lincoln
Cringe and wail in fear, Eloi- - - - -we Morlocks are on the hunt!
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. - Ernest Hemingway
Love your enemies and drive 'em nuts!
| | | | | Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 1,586 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: Jan 2000 Posts: 1,586 | I just lightly chuck the valve stem in a drill press and use a small screwdriver as a tool to clean the head like using a lathe,takes about 10 seconds.You can easily polish the stem and this way too. | | | | | Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 | Slip a piece of hose over the stem and blast away. I wouldn't go with a lot of pressure. Leaving a rough surface it will cause problems because the carbon will stick to it better.
You could also soak them in lacquer thinner, it will soften up the varnish.
Fred
52 3600
69 C-10
| | | | | Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,384 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Sep 2003 Posts: 2,384 | When I was at the machine shop we used the hot lye water solution to clean valve,rockers, etc, same things blocks went into. You can do it at home with a half a metal drum, some fire(gas or wood or charcoal) & lye or Drano, can be re-used, beware its corrosive to alum & your skin/eyes. (I'm not responsible for injury/alum damage, do this at your own risk,results may vary,buyer resposible for all taxes & license)Your local machine shop could also soak a 5 gallon bucket of parts pretty cheap, I know we did it for free if we did any machine work for folks. Brian | | | | | Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 523 Member | | Member Joined: Aug 2000 Posts: 523 | I blast with walnut shells....if you use glass PLEASE USE LOTTSA HOT WATER AND SOAP TO CLEAN EVERYTHING!!!!
I have seen people shell blast assembled heads and run em
But I can't do that | | | | | Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 'Bolter | | 'Bolter Joined: Jun 2000 Posts: 2,773 | Right on, Jim. Can't believe what I've seen people do.  Maybe we should have a calender with 12 stupid things not to do to your truck.Sure wouldn't be hard to gather the info.
Fred
52 3600
69 C-10
| | | | | Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 187 Shop Shark | | Shop Shark Joined: Dec 2001 Posts: 187 | Just called my local NAPA (which is a good store with a nice bunch of guys that WILL go the extra mile to find the old catalog stuff) and they quoted me $24 for a hot dip, rinse AND crack detection. I didn't think that was too bad  | | | | | Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 Extreme Gabster | | Extreme Gabster Joined: May 2001 Posts: 7,438 | I'd go with the NAPA deal. If you figure your time is $25 an hour you'll come out way ahead plus know if they are usable. | | |
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