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Cleaning an engine block for rebuild


ArdenK

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What is good DIY way to clean a engine block?

I marinated all the cylinders with mystery oil, thanks CD, and #2 is the only one that had oil in it after 2 days. The oil leaked out of #1, 3 & 4.

There was a leak somewhere in #2 so now I have a very rusty cylinder, the sat for 10+ years. What is good to clean the rust & will a hone fix the cylinder enough to do a re-ring job or will it have to be bored? Will a Scotchbrite pad hurt it?

I want to do a cheep rebuild so I have a working motor to move a project car around, something to hold me over until I get the origional motor rebuilt.

One last thing, do the pistons come out the top or can they come out the bottom of the cylinder?

Thanks for the help.

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Arden

http://ardens-2002tii.blogspot.com/

71 2002, tii, Schwarz

72 2002 tii, Polaris

76 Trans Am, Sterling Silver

96 Volvo 850, Daily Beater

Parts Cars: 73 2002 Malaga, 74 2002 tii Granatrot & 76 2002 Verona

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Spary purple power on block... then shoot it with a pressure washer.. make sure to shoot up in the oil passages and clean them out.

Normally I would let you figure it out but pistons come out the top on almost all engines except for certain farm equipement or road tractor motors.

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As long as the engine isn't stuck due to the rusty cylinder I'd roll that piston down to the bottom of its travel, evacuate all the mm oil from it and hit it lightly with a "dingleberry" ball hone until it's fairly clean. It'll run and if it smokes it would have needed a rebuild anyway. I've done that MANY times when cylinders looked that bad and had no major issues.

I wouldn't even pull the piston / rod to do it either.

Budweiser...It's not just for breakfast anymore.

Avatar photo courtesy K. Kreeger, my2002tii.com ©

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Arden -

I have a "ball" type flex hone I bought for use on my car along with some honing oil. I bought a 3.5" diameter (89mm) unit. I also have a 3.5" diameter cylinder wash brush from the same company.

You're welcome to borrow it (I can bring them to our Chapterfest this Saturday if you decide to come).

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Jim Gerock

 

Riviera 69 2002 built 5/30/69 "Oscar"

Royal Red 69 VW Squareback built 8/13/68 “Patty”

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I am reading this post with great interest. I am cleaning up a m20b25 motor and was wondering if you put a cardboard or plastic circle on the top of the piston when you did this maneuver? I was told by an old time autoshop teacher about this before the ball type hones were available. He used a regular hone and something to keep the piston from being touched. I figured I would use some 400 grit to get the goo off the line above the top of the piston ring and then hone it. Anyone think this is a good/bad idea?

Ahlem

'76 2002

'90 M3

'90 535i 5 speed

'89 325is '91 318is

'87 325is

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Not a bad idea, just unnecessary. The top of a piston just isn't that delicate...Hell it endures combustion! The lubricant used while honing will dissolve most of the debris broken loose by the hone and it can simply be wiped out of the cylinder. You don't want to get down to "fresh" metal unless you're doing a ring job. Just get the crap off the affected cylinder wall. In the photo shown I'd only hone the rusty cylinder. The little bit of (liquified) debris that might get to the rings isn't going to hurt the already worn cylinder and will be expelled pretty quickly once the engine is started. The hone in Jim's photo is EXACTLY the one I'm suggesting.

I'm only telling you this procedure is ok because you're interested in getting a little use out of the motor while you rebuild another. It may smoke like hell...Nothing ventured, nothing gained!

Budweiser...It's not just for breakfast anymore.

Avatar photo courtesy K. Kreeger, my2002tii.com ©

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