Best way to clean a head casting

[RockDoc]

I have a 3FE head all stripped down, and want to make some silicone molds of the manifold runners and combustion chambers (patience, there will be a thread on what I am cooking up once I get going on it). It's all new territory to me, but I hope to have lots to share as I move forward.

What is the best way to get the casting cleaned of all the carbon and gunk in the runners?
Take it in to be hot tanked?
Parts cleaner and elbow grease? (not too appealing, no heated shop to work in)
Any trick methods I can do at home? Propane torch to burn/crack/separate all the crap? Secret chemical concoctions?

Also, can I check the casting at home for cracks? (dye method) Or is it best to take it in and have it magnafluxed?

Thx,
Curtis.

 

[KLF]

Wait till the wife goes out, then put it in the dishwasher?

Otherwise, ya just have it tanked.

 

[Mace]

take it somewhere.. much easier

 

[Spike Strip]

Hot Tank and Magna Flux.

You can do a descent home job, of cleaning, but not as good as hot tank... Here in CA, they've outlawed and regulated the old solvents/chemicals to death, so hot tanking ain't what it used to be...

And I believe a good machinist can spot things with mag flux that you can't with other methods...

 

[RockDoc]

Sounds like I'm off to see the machinist tomorrow.

 

[Tinker]

Hot tank & bead blast. And Magnaflux.

 

[Spike Strip]

Yeah, bead blast too. Supposed to strengthen the casting, but that's just what I've read...

Good luck, Doc!

 

[RockDoc]

Well, it's at the shop, find out on Monday if it's in good shape. I'll have to ask about the bead-blasting. Maybe I'll have that done when I take it in to be shaved after playing around with the carbide burrs.

 

[Tinker]

Old school port & polish? How 'bout Extrude Hone?

 

[RockDoc]

Old school port & polish? How 'bout Extrude Hone?

Using John Dalton's book Practical Gas Flow as a guide, I'm going to give the whole top end a good going through.

Silicone rubber mold of runners and chamber (one each of cyls 1/6, 2/5 and 3/4) --> multiple plaster casts to modify and test with a homebrew flow-bench --> decide what works and commit it to cast iron. The beauty of modeling it with the plaster is that I'll be able to try a bunch of different things individually and combined, and see what will work best.

One of the "challenges" I see is getting all the cylinders balanced for flow, as 1/6, 2/5 and 3/4 have quite different angular relationships between the intake runner and the combustion chamber.

Planning to use modified stock parts pretty much across the board. I have the TB and injectors out already for an over-bore and cleaning/balancing. Planning to give the AFM a good look over to see what I can get away with in the way of streamlining flow through it. I plan to turn the stock valves to give them a better profile with rim-flow for the intake valve. I'd like to use them rather than replace them with a cheby part or some such. I'm not keen on the idea of using larger valves, as there isn't alot of clearance between the valve and the side of the CC, so masking of the flow would become an issue with a larger valve. Planning to stick with the stock cam for now too. Maybe I'll bump that up if I ever swap stuff over to a 2F block.

We'll see what else comes up.

Once I start making some headway, I'll start a proper thread on it.

 

[mmw68]

Sound like your on the right track.

 

[D'Animal]

You should have brought it with you to SnT. There is an old time hot rod builder not far from me that has a flow bench and does amazing head work.

You actually drove by his shop if you went to Rocky Hill adn then back to 198.

 

[RockDoc]

You should have brought it with you to SnT. There is an old time hot rod builder not far from me that has a flow bench and does amazing head work.

You actually drove by his shop if you went to Rocky Hill adn then back to 198.

Would have been cool to get some ideas, but a good portion of what I have I picked up in Portland on the way home

BTW, if it all comes together and nets good results, I'll have another full core of top end and intake setup off my truck that could be worked. If'n your still thinking 2FE for the extended cab

 

[D'Animal]

If it all comes together and nets good results, I'll have another full core of top end and intake setup off my truck that could be worked. If'n your still thinking 2FE for the extended cab

I'm still thinking about it.

I would think that a longer stroke 2F would need different porting than a short stroke 3FE.

 

[RockDoc]

I'm still thinking about it.

I would think that a longer stroke 2F would need different porting than a short stroke 3FE.

6.9% boost in displacement. I hope I can get more than 6.9% improvement in flow

If you run into the hot rod builder from time to time, I'd love to hear if there are any books he'd recommend.

 

[D'Animal]

I will ask him about some books.

I will have the FJ40.5 at his shop so he can make some SS brake lines while I wait.