Head Cleaning

[sjbsuperman1425]

A few months ago I got my head cleaned at my local machine shop, as it had some carbon build up and was gunked up.

Before:

After:

Nice right? haha..What the shop said is that they let it sit in a hot tank (or solvent tank) overnight and then used a wire brush to clean out the rest of the buildup. Does anybody think that the camshaft seals and the valve stem seals might be compromised by the process took in cleaning the head? I'd hate to get it all back together and have to take it back apart and replace stuff because I messed up.

[1sikS13]

its a good possiblity that the vavle seals are now compromised, they are cheap. If i were you i would just replace them. And i thought it was bad idea to hot tank a head while it is still together. I could be wrong though

[zach-Ka]

its a good possiblity that the vavle seals are now compromised, they are cheap. If i were you i would just replace them. And i thought it was bad idea to hot tank a head while it is still together. I could be wrong though

[sjbsuperman1425]

its a good possiblity that the vavle seals are now compromised, they are cheap. If i were you i would just replace them. And i thought it was bad idea to hot tank a head while it is still together. I could be wrong though

huh, live and learn i guess. Seems like i got screwed by my machine shop right now, but i may have to go have a chat with them next week.

[VirginiaPS13]

had mine done the exact same way put it back on without replacing anything and its all good.

[1sikS13]

Well in that case why dont we all just hot tank a whole motor and slap it back in the car it came from and pray to god it works the same as when it came out. Really dont do that. I can almost gaurantee that your seals will leak if they didnt already before you hot tanked it. Ive been getting machine work done for years. And no honest shop should say yeah you will be fine, cause the five I've been to in my area suggest that I take it apart and hot tank all the components seperately. Think about it, if it sat in a solvent bath for one night, and then it was hot tanked. That is one whole night that the solvent was givin time to work its way into every little crack and corner of that head. If you want it cleaned the right way. You should have dismantled it and then hot tanked it. While its apart replace valve seals. Solvent will eat your valve seals. Its not that hard to realize what solvent does to things, especially rubber. GL with this endeavor, you have my advice. What you decide to do with it is up to you.

[sjbsuperman1425]

I dont understand why you seem so flustered, but I have your advice and I thank you. I mind as well replace the valve and camshaft seals as the engine is old anyway.

[1sikS13]

Only flustered because i know whats its like to have to do things twice. It sucks, and it's retarded to think that one person can say hey i did it and i dont have a problem. Plain ignorance, i like to see thinks done right, my car or your car, f*** anyones car. Doing it right will just save the trouble in the long run.

P.S. Your welcome

[sjbsuperman1425]

understandable. I dont really have the cash to do it, but then again, i dont really have the cash to do it again now do I? lol so It will be done!

btw, Lions > Packers lol

[sjbsuperman1425]

well im a bit..puzzled i guess you could say. remove the camshaft to find the camshaft seal virtually brand new looking. makes me almost wonder if they even tanked it..

[speedeast]

Local shop cleaned my heads; he disassembled EVERYTHING and bead blasted them I believe. Either way, he took everything apart to measure everything; reassembled with all new seals.

Oh, and Packers > Lions

[sjbsuperman1425]

im going to the shop Monday to find out exactly what they did, what solvents/chemicals were used and what the process was for cleaning the head, and i'll report back as to what they say about leaving the head together.

[sjbsuperman1425]

if a shop were to hot tank the head overnight, what are the chances of oil still being present in the head? I pulled a few lifters out and noticed oil still on them as well as the cams, and the cam seal. There was also oil that leaked from the head from where it has been sitting for the past two months.

still going there tomorrow, but it makes me think they used a jet washer or something to clean it.

[sjbsuperman1425]

just got back from the machine shop and this is what they told me..

he said the valve seals should be ok because the solution they use in their hot tank (which they did use) is very "cut up" (diluted) and that they do it to heads when people want them cleaned up. He also said that if i were to go to a place like carquest, their hot tanks would have a harsher detergent then what they use at their shop.

thoughts? btw, the buildup in the runners was wire-brushed out and the camshaft seals appeared to be in good condition..