As per title really, whats the best way to get an Ali cylinder head looking like new again with out damaging it?

Is soda blasting ideal for this sort of thing? Mild acid dipping?

 

Sonic cleaning is good or a derv bath just leave it to soak longer the better

 

I'd go for ultrasonic cleaning, less then 10mins and its like new.

Here's a pic of a sump + pickup i've done




http://www.flickr.com/photos/marcosworth/6228931185/
Not bad i guess

 

wait till the missus pops out and bang it in the dishwasher

 

Soak it over night in brake fluid. Works well with old and hardened oil.

For corrosion on the head I'd choose shot blasting with glass beads.

 

Ultrasonic is where it's at IMO.

 

Acid bath, that would do the trick.
Avoid the dishwasher, the drying process will oxidise it.

 

A mate of mine who builds engines went to drop an engine off for an acid bath but the bloke was goin on holiday so told him to just use nitromors(paint stripper) he reckons it works really well.

Give it a go, if it dont work youve wasted a fiver, if it does youve saved a load of time abd some money.

 

I used the dishwasher loads and never had a problem.

 

i had my head acid dipped ,


used a local frim we know that refurb alloy wheels ,


he dipped it in there ally stripper stuff , for around an hour , rinsed it and then left in just inside of the powdercoat booth for ten min as it was baking off ,



came out like new and dry as a bone !!!

 

Got any before and after pics Beef?

 

Where can you get a decent ultrasonic cleaner for a good price that a cylinder head will fit in?

 

if its stripped post me it up and i'll ultrasonic it for you.

 

I would rather buy one myself as i know it would get used a lot as i share a unit with 4 other guys with project cars and we need something like this to clean parts

 

got ours from caresonic. not cheap though IIRC it was 2.4k.

 

thats the worst thing to do on a head
as there will be bits of shot that you will never get out and they will end up in the oil system and then fuck the engine

 

How much would this cost? pm me please

 

That why you're a bit thin up top beefy?

Had a huge ultrasonic bath at my old job, used to do loads of different bits and bobs, always came out gleaming

 

Ive heard of people using a couple of bottles of coca-cola to clean heads.

im not taking the piss either. they tip the coke into a bucket and stand the head in it over night.

 

always clear vinegar, leave overnight and rinse next day.

 

you woould have to go bk a few pages and find the engine build pics on my resto mate


dont have them to hand

 

ill have a word at work mate, we have an ultrasonic cleaner but they never use it as it takes too long to use.

ive been there over 10 months and they have not switched it on since ive been there, so i dont think its had much use.

they were on about selling it last week funily enough, but i have no idea on costs and its pretty big, about 4 foot square so will easily get a couple of heads in at a time.

ill ask the questions on monday and report back!