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As the title states im trying to clean the heads of my engine. Got the fully apart right now. I dont plan to get the heads milled but want to clean everything else up.
As per getting rid of grease, dirt, and excess carbon build up what is the best way?
We did many with a simple brush and degreaser, aluminum scraper for stubborn spots, and checked for plane with a straight edge, and inspected the valves for fit and sealing with a thin liquid or strong light, followed simply by lapping often ... then Ricky started working in a well equipped machine shop with a hot tank on the dock and a crack checker and valve grinder, etc.
My head gaskets always got a good coat of high heat aluminum engine enamel ... usually Rubbermaid brand but it really didn't have to be that brand..
X2 as stated above
Hot tank, check for warpage, and magnaflux for cracks.Ck guides amd valves, spring tension......
I am NOT a engine builder BUT have learned the hard way.
Always have the machine shop work done while that far into it.
If you do not have access to a hot tank/machine shop oven cleaner will break down some of the deposits that a scraper or wire wheel cannot get to. The stuff is nasty so wear protective gear.
Wire wheel set from Amazon, drill motor and safety glasses for the heads, for the valves, I'd chuck them up in a drill press and take the drill motor with the wire wheel to them too.
I'd call around and see what it'd cost to have them hot tanked first. Sometimes no matter how much you scrub, then never come out as nice as the tank.
Otherwise, scrape off the heavy stuff, then oven cleaner and a few different sized wire scrub brushes for the rest. Might take a couple times to get it good enough. Wash with soap and water after rinsing the oven cleaner off. Dry, preferably with compressed air. Hit it with brake clean, then either prime/paint it or spray down with WD40 and put it in a plastic bag ,or wrap it with plastic wrap, so it doesn't rust.
Don't lay it down on the head surface if you aren't going to have it milled. If you drag the head gasket surface over a dirty table like you have it on, you could easily put a big enough scratch in it that might not seal initially, or if it does, compression can work it's way down the scratch and eventually blow the HG.
Wow! Thanks for all the information. I have contacted a local shop and they said they can hot tank the heads and mag them both for $150 (Canadian) Dropped them off today and should be done for tomorrow afternoon. I do plan on doing a full rebuild next year but its out of the budget right now as I am fully restoring everything else.
This should clean up the dirt and grease good enough for a repaint. Lipstick on a pig but good enough for now.
Power wash the bare head casting & passages, then use a wire wheel assortment on a drill to make them spotless.
Careful not to damage the head surface, valve seats, guides, and the valve margin.
Use a tap to clean all the threads.
I used kerosene and plastic brushes to remove the oil / gunk buildup off all the other parts.
A wire wheel on a bench grinder will clean all those up perfectly.
Dry everything and lightly oil machined surfaces.
How much effort you put in will determine how clean everything is.
