Generation III Internal Engine 1997-2006 LS1 | LS6
Sponsored by:
Sponsored by:

how to clean valves and C-Chamber?

Thread Tools
 
Search this Thread
 
Old Mar 2, 2004 | 01:17 PM
  #1  
2001CamaroGuy's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,766
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Default how to clean valves and C-Chamber?

I removed the heads from my car and need to clean all the oil/carbon/crap off of the valve and the combustion chamber so I can inspect for any cracks and gasket match the combustion chamber to the larger bore. What would be a really good soap/claner/acid/etc... (not acid but you get the idea) to get this stuff clean?
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2004 | 01:24 PM
  #2  
AZ Power & Sound's Avatar
TECH Resident
iTrader: (2)
 
Joined: May 2003
Posts: 840
Likes: 0
From: Tempe, AZ
Default

Originally Posted by 2001CamaroGuy
I removed the heads from my car and need to clean all the oil/carbon/crap off of the valve and the combustion chamber so I can inspect for any cracks and gasket match the combustion chamber to the larger bore. What would be a really good soap/claner/acid/etc... (not acid but you get the idea) to get this stuff clean?
Brake parts cleaner... stuff seems to eat away any kind of dirt or grime without hurting the surface!
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2004 | 01:25 PM
  #3  
2001CamaroGuy's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,766
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Default

hmmm........I'll go try that
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2004 | 01:32 PM
  #4  
2xLS1's Avatar
TECH Senior Member
20 Year Member
Photogenic
Photoriffic
Shutterbug
iTrader: (25)
 
Joined: Nov 2001
Posts: 5,649
Likes: 9
From: Warr Acres, OK
Default

I took a set of Aluminum heads to the machine shop I used to use for my old school stuff to get them hot tanked. He charges $15/pair to hot tank heads. Only problem was his solution was not compatable with aluminum. He suggested a couple places in town that rebuild auto trannies as they hot tank the cases and would have the proper solution for the heads without damaging them. I cleaned up the valves on the wire wheel mounted on my grinder.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2004 | 01:47 PM
  #5  
LOnSLO's Avatar
TECH Addict
iTrader: (15)
 
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 2,537
Likes: 1
From: Gainesville, GA
Default

A parts washer is about as good as it gets. 2xLS1 is right , do not get them hot tanked unles you don't mind them looking gray.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2004 | 05:10 PM
  #6  
2001CamaroGuy's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,766
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Default

found a shop with a parts washer
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2004 | 08:14 PM
  #7  
Greg_E's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: CT
Default

Originally Posted by 2001CamaroGuy
I removed the heads from my car and need to clean all the oil/carbon/crap off of the valve and the combustion chamber so I can inspect for any cracks and gasket match the combustion chamber to the larger bore. What would be a really good soap/claner/acid/etc... (not acid but you get the idea) to get this stuff clean?
I had some valves, that had some carbon build up, that I wanted to remove. I used Valvtech marine motor decarb. It was the only thing that I tried that would touch the carbon. It comes in a spray can, so I sprayed it in a container, and let the valves soak in it with a lid on the container. The heavy carbon deposits Will crinkle up, and look similar to when you put paint stripper on paint. If you want to try the do it yourself approach, it works fairly well. It's probably the same stuff GM sells to spray through the engine to decarb the combustion chambers. One word of caution: This stuff should not be sprayed into an engine, and left for longer than the recommended length of time. The solvents will attack the seals in the engine if left for extended periods, and then you have BIG problems.
Reply
Old Mar 2, 2004 | 08:27 PM
  #8  
2001CamaroGuy's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,766
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Default

Originally Posted by Greg_E
I used Valvtech marine motor decarb. It was the only thing that I tried that would touch the carbon.
where did you get that?
Reply
LS1 Tech Stories

The Best V8 Stories One Small Block at Time

story-0

6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

 Brett Foote
story-1

Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-2

Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

 Verdad Gallardo
story-3

7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

 Verdad Gallardo
story-4

Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

 Verdad Gallardo
story-5

6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-6

Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

 Verdad Gallardo
story-7

Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

 Pouria Savadkouei
story-8

Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

 
story-9

Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

 Verdad Gallardo
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 12:16 PM
  #9  
big358's Avatar
Teching In
 
Joined: Nov 2003
Posts: 13
Likes: 0
From: Phila, PA area
Default check under your kitchen sink

I used EasyOff oven cleaner. It says not to use on aluminum, but I went for it. Kept dunking the heads in mild soapy water to minimize the exposure time. The oven cleaner blasted the carbon from the chambers in less than one minute with the aid of a brass wire brush, valves still installed.

Then on to the valves. Again, after dunking the heads repeatedly in the sink full of soapy water, I disassembled them, rinsed the bare heads and blasted them dry with the air nozzle. The EasyOff took longer on the valves but still worked out well, especially considering the price and convenience.

Wow, it's going to be an easy deal to port these babies. (317's) Just a light clean up of the casting flash/mismatch at the valve seat and a little work around the guide, the swirl ramp and the rocker boss.
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 03:43 PM
  #10  
2001CamaroGuy's Avatar
Thread Starter
TECH Veteran
iTrader: (6)
 
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 4,766
Likes: 0
From: Phoenix, AZ USA
Default

thats another good idea (EasyOff)........
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 04:20 PM
  #11  
Cstraub's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
20 Year Member
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 1,386
Likes: 39
From: Tri-Cities, TN
Default

Easy Off Oven Cleaner. ..$3.95. . .Walmart, K-mart, Krogers. . .

Chris
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 06:09 PM
  #12  
Greg_E's Avatar
On The Tree
iTrader: (4)
 
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 169
Likes: 0
From: CT
Default

Originally Posted by 2001CamaroGuy
where did you get that?
I bought mine at West Marine, but any marine supply store should have it. It's used to decarb two stroke outboard engines to keep carbon buildup out of the rings. If you can't find it locally, you can order it through West's catalog. GM also sells a similar product, for use in the LS1, but I don't know what they get for it. I paid $8-9 for a can.
Reply
Old Mar 3, 2004 | 09:15 PM
  #13  
Scooter70's Avatar
TECH Fanatic
iTrader: (1)
 
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 1,098
Likes: 0
From: Farmington Hills, MI
Default

I used the GM Top Engine cleaner and soaked the valves in it overnight. The first set, I put each valve in a separate 16oz red plastic beer cup and put 1/2" of stuff in. 45 minutes later, the cleaner had eaten the bottom of the cups off and made a mess on my bench..... oops!! Morale of the story: use a heavy plastic container because that shtuff is strong.
Reply




All times are GMT -5. The time now is 11:31 PM.

story-0
6 Gifts Neither Your Dad Nor Grad Will Shove Into the 'Trinket Drawer'

Don't get dad new socks or a grill brush this year.

By Brett Foote | 2026-06-09 14:55:56


VIEW MORE
story-1
Topdon ONE vs. Artidiag 800 BT2: Which is the Diagnostic Tablet For You?

Slideshow: We take a close look at the ONE and Artidiag 800BT2 diagnostic tools from Topdon and the reasons to buy one over the other.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-28 11:05:11


VIEW MORE
story-2
Gas Monkey Built a 6-Wheel Ferrari Testarossa With a Corvette LT4 Engine

Slideshow: The controversial Ferrari F6 swaps its original flat-12 for a Corvette Z06-derived LT4 V8 and sends power to four rear wheels through a custom-built drivetrain.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-26 18:23:54


VIEW MORE
story-3
7 Most Reliable High-Performance Engines GM Has Ever Built

Slideshow:These GM engines didn't just make huge power, they survived abuse, boost, track days, and six-digit mileage with a reputation for refusing to quit.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-21 16:45:27


VIEW MORE
story-4
Amazing '71 Camaro Restomod Is Modern Muscle Car Under the Skin

Slideshow: This heavily modified 1971 Camaro mixes classic muscle car styling with a fifth-generation Camaro interior and modern LS3 power.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-05-12 18:06:42


VIEW MORE
story-5
6 Common C5 Corvette Failures and What's Involved In Repairing Them

Slideshow: From wobbling harmonic balancers to failed EBCMs, these are the issues that define long-term C5 ownership and what repairs typically involve.

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-05-07 18:44:57


VIEW MORE
story-6
Retro Modern Bandit Pontiac Trans AM Comes With Burt Reynolds' Autograph

Slideshow: A modern Camaro transformed into a retro icon, this limited-run "Bandit" build blends nostalgia with brute force in a way few revivals manage.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-04-21 13:57:02


VIEW MORE
story-7
Top 10 Greatest Cadillac V Series Performance Models Ever, Ranked

Slideshow: Cadillac didn't just crash the high-performance luxury vehicle party, it showed up loud, supercharged, and occasionally a little unhinged...

By Pouria Savadkouei | 2026-04-16 10:05:15


VIEW MORE
story-8
Top 10 Most Powerful Chevy Trucks Ever Made!

Slideshow: Top ten most powerful Chevy trucks ever made

By | 2026-03-25 09:22:26


VIEW MORE
story-9
Hennessey's New Supercharged Silverado ZR2 Has 700 HP

Slideshow: Hennessey has turned the Silverado ZR2 into a 700-hp off-road monster with supercharged V8 power and a limited production run.

By Verdad Gallardo | 2026-03-24 18:57:52


VIEW MORE