Technical Slightly Overbaked Desoto 330

Hey guys, I’m wanted to if you had any tricks for getting this baked on crud off of a valve train without removing the heads. From what I can see through the plug holes the pistons are a little crispy too. I thought about running some Berryman b12 in it, letting it run for a while, then doing an oil change, rinse and repeat a few times. I’m just worried about that **** clogging all the oil p***ages. Desoto 330 parts are hard to find and brutally expensive. I’m not opposed to pulling the heads, just trying not to piss off my apartment managers with having the car inop for a few.

 

Just my opinion, but if it’s currently running without issues, I’d put the valve cover back on and drive it

I’d be worried of breaking off chunks of stuff and clogging an oil p***age/etc

 

Ya , unless your gonna tear it down , it wont help at all to disturb that with cleaner or what not.

 

10-4. Thats how Ill proceed. Thanks

 

Something to think about the rockers and shafts unbolt. If I wanted to clean it I would pull the rocker ***emblies (lay the covers back on so your landlord don't think it looks inop) soak them and get a shop vac a putty knife and some kerosene and clean the heads up while the rocker ***emblies were soaking. The shop vac is to catch the **** as you peel it off.

Otherwise I would just drive it. it was running that way before you met it.

 

They do.

But they are bolted down via the head bolts. So when you pull the rockers, the only thing keeping the heads in place are the tiny dowels and the head gaskets.

OP, if you do remove the head bolts to clean the rocker ***emblies, I'd suggest getting a couple of temporary hardware-store surrogate bolts to keep the heads in place. Otherwise you risk the heads shifting.

 

Change the oil & filter a lot, it'll do all the cleaning you want to do without the risk. Most of those MoPar '50s engines can be changed to a spin-on with the plate from a 318 LA. The cartridge type elements are a ***** to find & cost too much.

 

Change the oil and run it like302 gmc says , but I'd probably add a little ATF to the oil, of course that may make it smoke a bit

 

I've seen some very clean internals just from using Mobil 1 synthetic. On that same note, check around for an oil with a decent amount of detergent additives. Any type of solvent won't lube as it cleans like oil will.

 

Run a diesel-rated oil like Chevron Delo or similar; these have a high detergent package.

 

My son had a 318 LA that lost oil pressure from running it harder than the previous owner. I set him up with a drain pan and tools to change his oil. Told him to change it every time it lost pressure after about a week it started going farther between changes. That was 15 years ago and it's still running never went inside the engine. His brother plows snow with it.

 

I really appreciate the info guys. I have heard of running a diesel rated oil. I will do that for a while and change the oil frequently. Ill see if the 318 LA plate will work for this motor and definitely make that upgrade.

 

The oil filter housing bolts to the side of the block totaly different then the LA 318. Hot Heads Reserch & Racing has a few styles to pick from.