Cleaning the short block

[Devin]

Any suggestions for cleaning up the gasket surfaces and pistons while in-car? I ordered some plastic scrapers and razor blades, carb cleaner and degreaser. I'd like to get most of the crusty stuff off to where I can't feel it with my fingernail.

I'm worried about getting stuff in places where it shouldn't go. I stuffed shop towels in the cooling and oil passageways and will be using air and vacuum to clean out everything, but there is a lot of cleaning to do and don't want to foul anything up.

The bad side:



The iffy side:

 

[Deezuz]

Razor blades and follow along with a shop vac.

I've been using this for years now and I really do like them as well

Titan Scraper 17011 | O'Reilly Auto Parts https://share.google/2NRddperTUTVxSqds

 

[Deezuz]

I personally never ever stuff shop rags into crevices, but now that you already have, go ahead and clean, but when you do go to remove them, make sure you have the shop vac going at all times.

I advise against any rotary type tools, unless you are seasoned with them. Alot of guys take air tools to block decks and they end up with a shiny surface .. that means you removed metal... When I'm done prepping a block by hand, you still see the stains in the block, as they are now apart of the block. They can stay.

This is what a by hand prepped deck looks like. This surface is MLS ready. Dozens of razor blades, carbide scraper, brake clean, lint free rags, and some scotch Brite.




As for pistons, I never clean them unless I'm looking for cracks. But AcDelco/GM makes a top engine cleaner that is about the best you're going to get. I just think the procedure is useless and chances for contamination are increased. Same for cylinder walls and piston ridges. I just leave em.