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I pulled the valve cover yesterday. And wow. At least to me. See below. Any thoughts on an inexpensive method of cleaning this? While I may end up taking this to a shop, I haven't begun researching any and I am unaware of a place here that has a hot tank. Plus, moving it would be a real problem. This stuff is well on it's way to plasticizing. It doesn't wash off. I'm wondering if straight Acetone is my go to here?
The valve cover picture shows 10 minutes work with a brush and paint thinner with acetone. I've heard of ATF being used with acetone. I've heard kerosene won't work, nor diesel (unless it's a running engine). Everything I'm finding online is for dumping in 'something' and running the engine.
Also....is this 'standard' for a truck of this vintage. I've seen plenty of varnish on different used cars I've bought, but this isn't that. Wondering what my chances are with this engine??
I would find a shop that has a hot vat for parts cleaning and vat your entire engine. This is not normal, someone used cheap oil for a long time without any maintenance.
Are you pulling the engine apart ? if so then hot tank it.
If you're just looking under the valve covers it's safe to say your return ports are plugged to a large degree and that causes excessive oil burning and more sludge. FE's are famous for this. it's also safe to say that engine is pretty wasted , plan on needing some work.
Thanks guys. Yes this engine will be taken completely apart. Got it as a non-runner but not seized. That was my plan because when I drained the original oil I had it analyzed and it had a rainbow of minerals (nickel, copper). But I had hoped to assess what needs to be done in stages. Sending it off to be tanked at a shop rules out me making any 'study' of the engine in advance. The only good here is it really seems all original.
FYI as someone above thought, and i was hoping against, with the valve cover off I ran a drill in the distributor hole and literally nothing came up into the rockers.
I have heard about the NAPA tank thing but only online I've never heard of that up here (Massachusetts). You bring it into a parts store and they do that? Do I have that right?? Could just be me not being in the know.
I'm going to continue disassembling, if only to be able to move this. With that in mind....any suggestions on getting a stuck head off. I tried a pry bar in the exhaust port as I tugged and nothing. Hesitant to put a pry bar between the head and block. I can read the internets or the google, just being lazy. Thanks, JP>
Not just any auto parts store here, not Advance or Pep Boys or Autozone, etc. But our NAPA .... Yes. There are some others, like over in Lynchburg was also Lynchburg Battery & Ignition as I was growing up. But go check at NAPA, if they don't do it they'll know who does locally.
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Most have a machine shop and hot tank. They usually cater to many of your local mechanics.
