FLYNAVY30

iTrader: (1)

Im half way through my cylinder head swap....is there any real reason to go through the trouble of actually cleaning the carbon build up off the top of the pistons? If there is, Im all for it, but Im not one to waste time cleaning something for no reason.

Additionally, any tips for getting that last little bit of crap off the block surface? I used a plastic ice scraper, and then a credit card, but theres still a very light amount of residue from the original gasket...

Thanks

Darkman

iTrader: (2)

The piston tops can be cleaned by running them up to TDC and using some brake cleaner.

I would certainly concentrate on the block since having it clean is important for good seal. I use plastic scrappers and a lot of WD40 on the block.

parks450

iTrader: (17)

Leave the carbon that extra few thousandths will bump your compression up....jkjk

Seriously though, to clean mine I put each piston at TDC and used a razor blade to get everything off. Took about 1 min per piston. Why wouldn't tu is the question? Your that far just do it...

A.R. Shale Targa

iTrader: (2)

YES clean them. Carbon retains heat and can contribute to detonation.
As stated, razor blade scrape then use a scotchbrite pad (lightly)

therabidweasel

iTrader: (5)

If youre measuring deck height It's more consistent to remove the carbon. I used 320 grit wet/dry sand paper and wd40, took forever,but it looks pretty.

Use Google to search the site for tony mamo's block prep procedure for one way to prep. It's a lot of damn work.

Gunslinger09

For a simple head swap it isn't realy needed. You can do it just to be **** but it's going to carbon up again as soon as you start the motor.

LS6427

iTrader: (2)

lol.....yes, clean it all off, its not supposed to be there....

Here's what mine looked like after I had terribly bad valve seals. I was detonating like UNBELIEVABLE at just part throttle easy accelerating on hot days.
Like "A.R. Shale Targa" mentioned, it gets hot and causes the air-fuel mixture to ignite before TDC. I razor bladed them, then used SeaFoam to soak in and wiped the rest off.......

After I cleaned it all off......no detonation at all, no matter how hot the engine got.

Clean it ALL off.......it will just keep building up.

.

Bafomet

The best, safest and quickest way to clean your deck, heads and pistons is with a die grinder with a rubber finger pad. I've been using this method for years and never had a single issue with it. You can get them anywhere. Only a moron can remove actual block material and it makes unbelievably quick work of the job. Use some light grit sandpaper for any areas you can't get to with the pad.

garygnu

with a tune your car will be running a little leaner then the factory tune,so it won't carbon up too much.

FLYNAVY30

iTrader: (1)

ok thanks guys.....razor blade and brake cleaner....hoping to get the heads on this afternoon so I can order the new pushrods and get this thing back on the road