Un-Gunking Flathead Heads

Hi All,

I've got a pair of aluminum Edelbrock heads I need to clean out. The guy who used to run these obviously lived in an area with hard water. Lots of white, calcium looking stuff inside.

They'd work as is, but I'd like to clean them out. I'd also like to sandblast them before painting. Two questions:

1. Any suggestions on how to de-gunk the insides of these things?
2. When cleaning up the heads by bead/sand blasting, is it also OK to clean the cylinder side of the heads by bead/sand blasting?

Thanks,

Mike

 

I don't really know, but you might give CLR a shot?

 

[ QUOTE ]
When cleaning up the heads by bead/sand blasting, is it also OK to clean the cylinder side of the heads by bead/sand blasting?



[/ QUOTE ]

While it may have worked for some,it is generally not advised.

 

Vinegar may well do the job on that white stuff.

 

mag cleaner.... serious.. Eagle One brand mag cleaner... and a plastic scrub brush

 

I'm with Bruce - try vinegar before you move on to anything stronger. Poking & prodding with a coat hanger won't hurt either - especially while they're full of vinegar!

You can sandblast the chamber side for cleaning. Follow it up with a good polish of the chambers though.

Since these are used, I'd check them for straightness on a flat plate or use something you know is flat/square (good straight-edge). If they're warped, see how much it would take to clean them up & skim them, but be very careful - be sure & check piston to head & valve to head clearance if you skim them.

 

Vinegar will remove some deposits cleanly, but some just turn soft and gooey without letting go completely. If this happens, get all the different bottle cleaning brushes you can find and poke then around in there. Also, I would not leave the heads in vinegar over night--it's strong enough to do some damage if it's in the mood for some aluminum for din din.