Gunky heads… what would you do? (2 Viewers)

[Dinwoody]

Hi all, I’ll try to keep it short… I found a 2f to throw into my 1977. It has great compression but the valves are crazy gunky. in the last photo you can see what 3 cans of carb cleaner got my on the right half of the valves (not very good). What do you guys think is the best path forward? Just using carb cleaner and a plastic brush isn’t getting the job done.

Thanks.

 

[charliemeyer007]

I would buy a full gasket set and rip it completely down to clean and inspect everything. You could fill it full with like kerosene and let it soak for a week or two, then drain it for a day or two. I would not turn it over while soaking - why circulate gunk or risk bending/breaking something. Put in clean oil/filter, pull the plugs and spin it with the starter until it builds oil pressure. Then fire it up and run it for a while. Be nicer if it was installed so you could drive it around at different speeds/ You can change that oil and filter soon.

 

[Dinwoody]

I would buy a full gasket set and rip it completely down to clean and inspect everything. You could fill it full with like kerosene and let it soak for a week or two, then drain it for a day or two. I would not turn it over while soaking - why circulate gunk or risk bending/breaking something. Put in clean oil/filter, pull the plugs and spin it with the starter until it builds oil pressure. Then fire it up and run it for a while. Be nicer if it was installed so you could drive it around at different speeds/ You can change that oil and filter soon.

That’s how I’m leaning right now. I’m in the middle of a frame off resto mod so right now is the time to rip is apart. The bottom end doesn’t look nearly as bad. Thank you!

 

[Sky King]

Another option would be to have a reputable machine shop hot tank it, it will come back squeaky clean.

 

[Dinwoody]

Another option would be to have a reputable machine shop hot tank it, it will come back squeaky clean.

I’ll probably go this route. It will be impossible for me to get it half that clean.

 

[Pighead]

I’ll probably go this route. It will be impossible for me to get it half that clean.

If I was taking a head to a machine shop I'd probably get a valve job at the same time...

 

[45Dougal]

Since you say it's to "throw in", I'm guessing that you are thinking it might get replaced or upgraded sometime soon.

If that's the case, then I'd just brush out the top with Jizer, then button it back up with some fresh oil and filter, and get weaving.

It's clearly been run like that for some time, so another few months with fresh oil & some frequent changes won't hurt much more.