Block prep redneck style...

[Evodelta]

I've recently been preparing a block for an engine build, born out of a bit of laziness and a need to discover or use new tricks I did it this way.....

It started off like this, one old second hand engine:







So I stripped it down completely, core plugs and all, cleaned the worst off and stuck it in the dishwasher on a hot wash.....

It came out really clean, but covered inside and out with surface rust, not heavy at all - the kind you can wipe off with your fingers, I also wanted to get some of the rust off the internal water passages, it was time for another experiment....

First I put some paint stripper on the remaining paint to remove it.

Thanks to Axa in another thread I bought some Bilt Hamber Deox-C, I got the powder you mix with water. I also got a used water tank and added the Deox with some warm water, apparently it dissolves easier and also does its job better.

I got some spare insulation and wrapped it up, also borrowed some expanded polystyrene from a skip and put it on top:



I left it in for a few days, lifting it out once a day to brush off any excess rust it was struggling with. Amazingly it stayed warm in my freezing garage for over 24hrs!

Finally it looks like this:










I put some other bits in too:





Pretty good for almost zero hard work eh?

[AlfaJack]

Brilliant results!

Will keep an eye out for this Bilt Hamber Deox-C stuff.

Cant believe the whole block fits in a dishwasher....my other half wouldn't be happy if I tried that

[wrinx]

Mmm...better results than my vinegar test, and perhaps with less odour!

wrinx

[Evodelta]

Brilliant results!

Will keep an eye out for this Bilt Hamber Deox-C stuff.

Cant believe the whole block fits in a dishwasher....my other half wouldn't be happy if I tried that

Well I'm a bit lucky in that respect (well I think so anyhow) she doesn't live with me so I had time to clean it all up! The best way (IMO) perhaps would be to buy a second hand dishwasher cheap on Ebay or in the local ads, it could live outside under a cover or in the shed if you had room, you would have to be doing a few bits though and it does have its drawbacks like rusting bare metal and making alloys go black. I think maybe pulling out the part before it goes through its final steam and dry cycle may help here.

You would be surprised at the size of a bare block, only 18" long and under 12" high.

If I was to offer any more advice on using this Deox it would be that it isn't completely dunk and forget, it doesn't like encrusted rust, you have to chip it off and before ordering I would carefully read how much you would need for the size of tank or amount of water you will use. My mix was a bit weak, I could have done with more, but didn't want to damage the bores in any way although this stuff is so gentle I don't think it would anyhow.

[Evodelta]

Mmm...better results than my vinegar test, and perhaps with less odour!

wrinx

When it's warm it smells very sulphurous, when I showed my mate he thought i'd dropped one.

[Steve Webb]

Hmm, I 've got an old dishwasher in the garage with a busted heating element, maybe time to get it sorted.

And if you were going real redneck style you would have slung the block in the dishwasher at the same time as the pots and pans you used for your roadkill potroast!

[wrinx]

When it's warm it smells very sulphurous, when I showed my mate he thought i'd dropped one.

Niiiice

wrinx

[WhizzMan]

Nice, when do we get to see the pics of the rest of the build?

[Evodelta]

When I have done it! Some components have arrived, still waiting on some.

[wrinx]

I was reading about another method last night, perhaps more suitable for deeply rusted parts.

Electrolysis.... http://www.stovebolt.com/techtips/ru..._derusting.htm

Might have a play around with this....

wrinx

[Evodelta]

This method works well Winky, just think, find a disused swimming pool, fill her up and drive your car in.

I did some more just lately:

Before:





Straight out of the tank:



After a few minutes with a wire brush wheel in the grinder:



Some more bits:





See how it eats right in to the pitting:



I quickly got them coated in etching primer, things rust very quickly in my damp old unit!

[AlfaJack]

Nice!

3 branch manifold.....Parts from the old 75?

[Evodelta]

Yup, you will have seen them advertised.

[wrinx]

Impressive stuff....your odour still concerns me though

wrinx

[Xti]

Can't see the pictures above and I couldn't find Bill Gates on the phone this evening for a wrangle...

Cheers,
Cristian