Block Cleaning Question
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 774
Likes: 4
From: It's a Chevy... you can fix it with a hammer.
Block Cleaning Question
I need to clean the water passages/jackets/areas in my block before I put it back together.
The machine work is already done. What is the best way to get all that rusty gritty crap out of there?
:confused:
Thanks,
Rick :flag
The machine work is already done. What is the best way to get all that rusty gritty crap out of there?
:confused:
Thanks,
Rick :flag
Le Mans Master
Joined: Mar 1999
Posts: 6,744
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From: delmont pa
Cruise-In I Veteran
Cruise-In II Veteran
Re: Block Cleaning Question (threestar40)
the machine shop should have hot tanked the block before the machine work. you can hot hank now but the bores will rust so you must coat it with W-40 quickly.
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
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From: Clymer PA
Re: Block Cleaning Question (clem zahrobsky)
You should also note that if you choose to hot tank your block now, the cam bearings will need to be knocked out. I believe my machine shop charges about $25-$35 to install new cam bearings (you supply the bearings). Just a heads-up for you... :cheers:
BTW, Clem is correct the machine shop should have done that BEFORE your machine work was finished.
BTW, Clem is correct the machine shop should have done that BEFORE your machine work was finished.
Thread Starter
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2001
Posts: 774
Likes: 4
From: It's a Chevy... you can fix it with a hammer.
Re: Block Cleaning Question (bence13_33)
I am just going to leave it be. I am going to wash it again though before final assembly. It just doesn't look very clean. Maybe even still has some casting debris in it? I can put a filter some where in a coolant hose, I will be thorough on the oil passages though.
Just out of curiosity, Why the cam bearings? So what if they get wet? Maybe the cleaning solution they use is corrosive...Is that what your getting at? I heard when I was a teenager it is a heavy Basic(caustic) solution. I guess its reasonable that it would corrode the bearings, I just dont know.
Thanks for the replies :)
Rick =)
Just out of curiosity, Why the cam bearings? So what if they get wet? Maybe the cleaning solution they use is corrosive...Is that what your getting at? I heard when I was a teenager it is a heavy Basic(caustic) solution. I guess its reasonable that it would corrode the bearings, I just dont know.
Thanks for the replies :)
Rick =)
Safety Car
Joined: Aug 2000
Posts: 3,909
Likes: 26
From: Clymer PA
Re: Block Cleaning Question (threestar40)
threestar40:
The hot tanking solution will ruin the cam bearings. The same thing goes for aluminum intake manifolds (or anything aluminum for that matter) ...you can't hot tank them either. I'm not sure what the end result is if you try to, maybe it desolves them. The machine shops will drive the cam bearings out before they hot tank your block. A special tool is also required to press in the cam bearings.
With that being said, hot tanking a block is the way to go when preparing it for a rebuild.
The hot tanking solution will ruin the cam bearings. The same thing goes for aluminum intake manifolds (or anything aluminum for that matter) ...you can't hot tank them either. I'm not sure what the end result is if you try to, maybe it desolves them. The machine shops will drive the cam bearings out before they hot tank your block. A special tool is also required to press in the cam bearings.
With that being said, hot tanking a block is the way to go when preparing it for a rebuild.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
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From: Forked River NJ
Re: Block Cleaning Question (bence13_33)
Another thing you want to do after cleaning the block with hot soapy water. Take a paper towel wit hsome transmission fluid and wipe down the bores. Do this with new paper towels until the towel no longer gets dirty. Transmission fluid is designed to take hold of dirt and suspend it in the fluid. It takes all the maching debris off the cylinder walls and cleans them up. You would be surprised how dirty the first towel will get. It also keeps the bores from rusting.
