TECH: low budget molasses rust removal

Will this procedure affect clean metal? The part I want to soak is rusted is one side, but machined on the other. I don't want to remove metal, only rust (it's an old engine block with a rusty outside, but perfect crosshatch on the cylinders)...

 

I have never had it affect good metal, only rust. Try another part to be sure for yourself. Cast iron comes out great.

 

Paul,...you got any pics of the pancakes or cookies?

 

When my neighbors here in the country are hanging deer carc***es from the trees this time of year, I'm airing out a freshly rust-stripped engine block and power-washing off the mol***es. Dried it off, spray-painted the block and heads and WD40-ed the bare metal, holes, threads and cylinder surfaces. Now to decide whether a 77 351W block (with +.023 deck height) and ported 70 D0OE heads (which will need serious milling) will balance out to slightly higher compression. Or maybe I find it is just cheaper to buy a reman engine and save some time, too.

 

Has anyone ever tried the reverse electrolysis method in mol***es or vinegar or other mild acid?