How to clean an assembled shortblock at home?
#1
How to clean an assembled shortblock at home?
I have a 355 lt1 that had some coolant get into 3 cylinders and caused some surface rust, from what I'm suspecting as not using sealant on the head bolts. I was originally going to disassemble it and have it honed and cleaned and reringed at a machine shop, but now after freeing up the motor the walls look just stained and I don't catch anything with a fingernail. The inside of the block is still dirty, and I'm trying to decide if I can clean it as is, or do I have to pull out the pistons and rods? If I pull the pistons and rods, can I leave the bearings and rings alone and just soak it in pine sol and put it back together, or will pulling the pistons past the carbon ring on the top of the block damage them? I see Freiburger and Finnegan from roadkill and Hotrod pull apart blocks all the time and regap rings for boost and it's fine, and I'm on a very tight budget so I want to do this at home. It's a 355 with probe forged -13.8cc pistons, ARP rod bolts and ARP main studs.
This side had no coolant in the cylinders. The motor spins freely.
These 3 did.
This side had no coolant in the cylinders. The motor spins freely.
These 3 did.