Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

Sean Krupa

Sean Krupa

Moderator
I picked up a set of Ported Vortecs that were off of Ed Hess' old build, which have been sitting for almost 10 years in bags with oil on them. Well instead of just slapping them on my motor, I decided to take them to a machine shop to get checked out for cracks etc. The heads were at the shop for 2 weeks already and nothing really has been done and I need to get my engine back together.

They wana charge me $525 for magnafluxing, pressure testing, cleaning, and working on the guides so the Valves move freely. I thought that was nuts so I told them to put the 2 valves back together and I'll pickem up Friday.

Does anyone have any suggestions as to Removing the Rust by the Valve seats as shown in the pics? Is this something I can tackle myself or find another shop? These heads were machined before when Ed ran them with Big Valves, just looks like they need a cleaning.





Thank you, need to get this done ASAP. :tup:
 
atkonkler

atkonkler

Is this your bush?
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

They would have to be chemically dipped I think but I could be wrong... Call around that seems way to expensive to me...
 
Matt

Matt

Active member
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

The only think that i think will help is a hot tank or glass beading it
 
Quickstop [UK]

Quickstop [UK]

Combating adversyty.
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

You have three issues:

The valve seat
The valve stem
The throat.

If you plug the valve stem, you can blast around the throat area so you don't have to worry about the stem. Shouldn't take much.

You may be able to ignore that and just blast merrily away and then replace the valve stem seals.

The only other bit you'd need to be careful off is the actual valve seat so it doesn't leak. You're probably going to need one of those valve seat grinding tools and some paste afterwards. Check it for leaks etc.
 
Sean Krupa

Sean Krupa

Moderator
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

That's what I was thinking Mark! Thanks! I will be replacing the valve seals. I have a soda blasting machine at work that the Techs use to clean carbon off Valves.

And I saw a video on youtube of a guy using one of those Valve seat grinding tools and paste for a clean seat surface.

Keep em coming guys, I sure would like to save some $$ here, but at the same time, this Head swap is a lot of work and don't want problems when I put them back on.

Thank you,
 
C

Captain Morgan

Moderated User
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

not sure if others would agree, but if they were mine, going on my truck, I would removed the rust with muriatic acid, then rinse with water and dry with an air hose immediately. Then I would use some of oil/sealant, WD40 even make a Long-Term Corrosions Inhibitor spray now, heard it works fairly well. Once I was ready to bolt them on, I would remove that with a normal cleaner, prep for paint, etc....
 
Sean Krupa

Sean Krupa

Moderator
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

My next concern is that if I try blasting it with soda, or use that Acid followed with a Valve seat grinding tool with paste, hopefully there wouldn't be any Pits in the seats to cause a leak since they sat for so long.

Then I would need a Valve job anyways which is $$. The shop also said, since the heads sat and theirs a lot of Rust, the Springs have potential to have Pits which could weaken them and crack.
 
JSM

JSM

Active member
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

I have read molassas (spelled wrong maybe) mixed with water? can be used as a rust remover, might do some googling.
 
e95 Ty

e95 Ty

New member
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

Sean, as I've told you before. Get it done right and then no worries. How many guys on here do you see doing things over and over again cuz they try and save a buck.
The heads need to be maged, pressure tested and the deck checked. Call a few more shops and get some more prices. But again what the hell do I know..lol Good luck
 
C

cabox70

New member
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

WD-40 has a new rust remover that you soak your parts in overnight. I cant vouch for how well it works. then you would still have to hand lap your valves and seats. I do understand trying to save a few bucks by doing things yourself, but headwork is something that I would pay for to have done properly.
 
Sean Krupa

Sean Krupa

Moderator
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

I have a set of stock 772 Vortecs that I cleaned and did a 3 angle valve job at school couple years ago. Only thing is, they aren't drilled for the intake pattern. That's why I wanted to buy already modded heads to slap on.

The other thing I'm thinkin about is swapping the high pressure Springs, screw in studs, pushrod guides onto the stock 772s and get them drilled, or just deal with the ones I got and try and clean them the best I can. I will have to give this some thought. Right now I'm dealing with this mess. Got in a big accident on Monday, that's why I'm tryin to save some Coin on these heads if I can.

 
s106banger

s106banger

New member
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

i would get a port and polishing kit and just remove the rust with a die grinder. your not going to be taking off much metal without using a carbide. clean up the guides with some wd-40 or pb blaster, then get a valve job to clean up those valve seats.
 
atkonkler

atkonkler

Is this your bush?
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

Did you do alittle rolling in the ditch....holy shit that car is fuc#ed....hope ya had full coverage...if insurance fixes it sell it immediately after an accident like that the integrity of the car as a whole is no more... I'm glad your safe or whoever was driving is....cars can be replaced people can't...good luck!
 
Quickstop [UK]

Quickstop [UK]

Combating adversyty.
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

Sean Krupa said:
I have a set of stock 772 Vortecs that I cleaned and did a 3 angle valve job at school couple years ago. Only thing is, they aren't drilled for the intake pattern. That's why I wanted to buy already modded heads to slap on.

The other thing I'm thinkin about is swapping the high pressure Springs, screw in studs, pushrod guides onto the stock 772s and get them drilled, or just deal with the ones I got and try and clean them the best I can. I will have to give this some thought. Right now I'm dealing with this mess. Got in a big accident on Monday, that's why I'm tryin to save some Coin on these heads if I can.

Click to expand...

Drilling the stock heads is easy. Do that. These rusted ones will eat up your time and become a headache. Getting them magged is smart as well seeing as they have been run hard.

You can always just pull the heads later on but that former beautiful VW looks like it will be expensive.
 
Sean Krupa

Sean Krupa

Moderator
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

Thanks guys! I was driving my GTI when a big moving truck cut me off and crossed a median and I ended under the truck. Yes, luckily no one was in the Pass seat. The car is totalled and looking for another vehicle asap.

Once I pick up these Ported rusted Vortecs from the shop on Friday, I'll have to look at the other valves and such to determine the damage. Maybe the rest of the chambers aren't that bad, who knows.

I have about 2 months ideally, to get this truck back together. I still need to remove the stock cam and pick up the new one from Alex (qbnkiller). Then slap everything back together and hope nothing leaks and starts.
 
qbnkiller

qbnkiller

Conflaguration Specialist
Re: Cleaning rust out of Cylinder Heads

I hate to say it Sean, but $575 is the way I would recommend. This is the best way long-term. Otherwise you will always have that little voice in your head nagging when the engine hiccups the first time.
 
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