I was wondering if anyone has ever used some sort of acid wash or soaking method to clean engine parts from a disassmbled engine?
I am overhauling an engine and want to get the parts looking like shiny new aluminum. Thanks

If it's stuff that doesn't have any plastic on it or crevices to hold gunk, you can take it to a machine shop and have them hot tank it.

You can also buy a bucket of b12 chemtool cleaner at the local parts store. dip the parts in it and let it soak for a while. pull parts out and finish with plastic brush..
Check out the timing covers and oil filter mount on here:
http://blehmco.com/pics/car/engine/n...e/100_1673.jpg
http://blehmco.com/pics/car/engine/n...e/100_1674.jpg
http://blehmco.com/pics/car/engine/n...e/100_1675.jpg
http://blehmco.com/pics/car/engine/n...e/100_1677.jpg

I sandblasted/beadblasted some parts like the IM and they came out real nice.

Thanks, that cleans up awesome. Was that with the chemtool? I'll have to go check that out.

Yup. that's why I posted those pics.
the heads and block were hot-tanked at the machine shop.. I then painted the block once i got it back. heads are as-returned from shop. everything else I cleaned up myself in the garage.

That engine looks great, Matt. Is that from your red 3rd Gen that had the 'issues' at the Maxus track day a couple years ago?

And when are you going to get wheels for all those bike frames on the wall?

Yeah, that was the one I "blowed up" at the track.
Here's what I found when I pulled the oil pan:
http://blehmco.com/pics/car/engine/100_1227.jpg

Here was the main culprit in the failure: (Note there's no damage to the threads.. the thing just came unscrewed!)
http://blehmco.com/pics/car/engine/100_1239.jpg

Which caused the connecting rod to do this at 7000rpm:
http://blehmco.com/pics/car/engine/100_1246.jpg

Which caused this to be deposited in the bottom of my oil pan: http://blehmco.com/pics/car/engine/100_1234.jpg

Ouchies.

anyway, the pics of the new engine are from a couple cores I tore down and rebuilt using the good parts of all 3. I was afraid to use the crank, block, and heads from the blown engine above.. I wound up just using simple stuff like the intake mani, valve covers, etc.

The rest of the engine is "new." I had the crank turned and polished and then dropped in some JE pistons from an NA Z32 to up the compression and ported the heads while I was at it. Sad part is it's still not as strong as the one I blew up, and it had over 200k miles on it!

[QUOTE=Matt93SE;6192431}

The rest of the engine is "new." I had the crank turned and polished and then dropped in some JE pistons from an NA Z32 to up the compression and ported the heads while I was at it. Sad part is it's still not as strong as the one I blew up, and it had over 200k miles on it![/QUOTE]

Wow, with that engine work I would think it would be a better engine.

Think you can make Maxus this year? Things are looking good for a track day...

is there any priming process for applying engine enamel, or is it just a straight spray it on deal?

Is it true that the 3800 series engines the most durable built engine ever? And does this go for all the engine types in the series?