Cleaning engine block

[rsessoms]

I'm getting prepared to rebuild a motor that has a fair amount of rust inside the passages, valve springs and camshaft. Any recommendations on cleaning the block?
I'm thinking of dunking it in my electrolysis tank for awhile.

[Eugene]

My vote, engine or machine shop and have the block boiled out.

[rsessoms]

That will clean the rust and scale out?

[Eugene]

Good hot tank tip will remove the rust, scale, grease and clean the oil galleries.

[SONNY]

I second the hot tank! lol! --dont mess with other methods, as most of them wont work anyway!

[ricky racer]

My vote, engine or machine shop and have the block boiled out.

[rsessoms]

That's good enough for me.
Thanks guys!

[Gary S.]

You guys have machine shops that still have hot tanks ?? Due to the EPA and the use of aluminium blocks and or heads most have been replaced by what looks like heavy duty industrial dish washers. Many years ago I remember a near by shop putting a VW crankcase in the tank,not much came out

[Bill V in Md]

This video of a home-made hot tank to clean an engine block is kind of interesting:
https://youtu.be/u0T7sy32vLw

[tst]

in my area hot tanks are almost gone, feds have made it to hard to get rid of the old chemicals, and they check as they keep records of who bought it, and it cost a small fortune to pay the places that take the old chemical

[tomstractor]

MY local shop bakes the block at high temp that turns the oil and sludge to carbon then the whole thing is shot blasted with steel shot. The parts come out like new, no rust or oil crud. No chemicals .

[Donegal Cub]

This video of a home-made hot tank to clean an engine block is kind of interesting:
https://youtu.be/u0T7sy32vLw

Seems to be a good job, and I’ll bet he saved a ton of money. He threw that heavy block around like it made feathers

[Bill V in Md]

This video of a home-made hot tank to clean an engine block is kind of interesting:
https://youtu.be/u0T7sy32vLw

Seems to be a good job, and I’ll bet he saved a ton of money. He threw that heavy block around like it made feathers

It is a clever approach, but that is a lot of contaminated water to dispose of. Also, he spent a lot of time battling the flash rust, but not sure there is a better method.

[SamsFarm]

MY local shop bakes the block at high temp that turns the oil and sludge to carbon then the whole thing is shot blasted with steel shot. The parts come out like new, no rust or oil crud. No chemicals .

Ok......

Who is eyeing up that old oven with the "self clean cycle" in their garage?

At what temp does it get into the danger zone of things warping?